True deliverance for Ritualmord.
After three EPs, ( ) (Hypothermia, Kall…) and 1853 (ex-Vanhelga, ex-Ofdrykkja…) are once again seeking to dissociate themselves from their former band Lifelover by unveiling their debut album, This Is Not Lifelover, with a very… evocative cover.
We start with Inandan, a rather vaporous but nonetheless eerie introduction that leads into Stonerpop, a gentle, melancholy blend of airy influences where a few eerie vocals and soaring keyboards of all kinds follow a fairly simple beat. I’d liken this track more to Shoegaze, especially with the misty touches that envelop the simple riffs before rubbing off on Inåtblick, a short interlude that follows these slow, soothing tones. We continue with Spår, which remains in a rather calm but much darker atmosphere, with the appearance of moaning in the background as well as more present screams that once again bring us into the DSBM universe, but which becomes heavier with Tjära and its thick rhythm coupled with dissonant leads. The track reeks of oppression, while Tid, on the other hand, takes us back to the soothing keys, while the background vocals go their own way, even getting angry before the finale. Saturation resurfaces on Andetag, accompanied by Black Metal’s furious blast that definitively changes the tone of this track, but it’s once again with softer strokes that the duo offer us Inifrån och ut, still anchored in these majestic and bewitching sonorities. The first hint of unease is felt when Slutna ögon is announced, and is confirmed with the appearance of saturated vocals that carry us into the darkest spheres until the continuous flow before drifting onto Se mig, where we again have those light intoxicating Post-Punk tones. Vocals begin to choke as the rhythm continues its march, but the musicians offer it and us a moment’s respite with the short All tid rasar samman and its distant wisps, followed by a few noisy elements. The lyrics return with Vår väntan…, first in a warm gentleness, then with an assumed sadness as the saturation returns to haunt the rhythm and then take it over, before Totalitär tomhet surrounds us with its ethereal tones, where a few claps, a distant voice and finally a heavier guitar adapt to the atmosphere until the howls of distress that mark the end of the album.
Ritualmord clearly announced the color, This Is Not Lifelover is not a continuity or an alter-ego, it is an album in its own right from a totally different project. Although there are certain touches that resemble these, the project remains anchored in a unique, dark atmosphere that many of us will come to appreciate.
85/100