Photo credit: Visions & Pixels
RITUAL DICTATES continues their gothic invention, this time joined by UNLEASH THE ARCHERS vocalist Brittney Slayes. “Aqua Tofana” is taken from their sophomore album, No Great Loss, set to be be released on October 7th via Artoffact Records. No Great Loss is an adventure for the duo, exploring darker, more gloomy atmospheres as they stretch their musical endeavors into new territory.
Justin Hagberg elaborates on the release: “The story of Giulia Tofana and her concoction was only just recently brought to my attention. True crime is a guilty pleasure, so naturally, one would get excited to hear about a poisoner who confessed to having her hands in the deaths of more than 600 men. It seemed only fitting to write a song about her.
It was an honour working with Brittney Slayes, and a relief because she was the only person I had in mind for AQUA TOFANA, and I hadn’t a Plan B if she was unavailable.
She’s an incredible singer, and one of the most professional musicians I’ve ever worked with.”
When RITUAL DICTATES members Justin Hagberg and Ash Pearson decided to join forces on this project, they brought with them all of the aggressive death/thrash that defined their previous work in 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and REVOCATION, while throwing any and all convention out of the window. Their debut album, Give in To Despair, brought together black metal hallmarks like speedy tremolos and icy interludes, plus punk moments and good time rock ‘n’ roll with catchy and fun keyboard accents.
A more gothic endeavour than their previous album, this supergroup of seasoned musicians brings together past and future in a seamless fashion. No Great Loss kicks off with the funky bass line and anthemic vocals of “Burn the Widow.” “My Solitude” shifts into a soulful swaying rhythm while “Goth And Exhausted” carries us to the depths of velvet curtains and smoky nightclubs. The album wraps with “Succumbing to the Ravages of Age” with mournful and dulcet chords and lyrics that anyone growing in life can identify with.
RITUAL DICTATES is a surprising act that offers no limit to their sound exploration. Not content to rest on their laurels, the work of Hagberg and Pearson shows remarkable risk and adventure. Due out October 7th, No Great Loss isn’t merely a musical endeavour, but an artistic expression that shows artists truly cannot be defined and even the heaviest artist can cultivate a poetic aesthetic.
No Great Loss Tracklist:
- Burn the Widow
- My Solitude
- Goth and Exhausted
- Aqua Tofana
- Autumn Song
- Succumbing to the Ravages of Age
Ritual Dictates Music Video
