Pale Horse Ritual continues its incantations.
Following a fairly low-key debut EP last year, the Canadian project featuring Paco (bass/vocals), Will Adams (guitar/backing vocals), James Matheson (guitar), and Jonah Santa-Barbara (drums) unveils its first album, Diabolic Formation, on Black Throne Productions.
Dom Valela (keyboards/vocals) and Doom Valhalla (Italian religious vocals) make guest appearances on certain tracks.
The warm sound of Deflowered is the first to reach us, quickly immersing us in heavy groovy Stoner roots before letting the lead guitar tinge it with piercing, jerky psychedelic influences that accompany our progression. The chaotic touch reappears for the finale, then Wickedness takes over and offers us a similar mix after a moment on the keyboard, then the vocals finally appear, offering us this heady combo to which are added the various effects that embellish an already catchy rhythm. Holy Lies then takes on occult Doom tones to complement the rich melodies, but also welcomes some backing vocals on the choruses, giving an impression of intoxicating fragility that responds to the elaborate harmonics while accentuating the heaviness of the riffs. Save You then allows us a break with soothing acoustic guitar. The vocals are accentuated by a little reverb, but remain very soft, allowing this minimalist duo and their keyboard to join Bloody Demon, which returns to abrasive sounds and captivates us in no time with simple but catchy riffs. The alternation between leads and vocals is also very well controlled, and then it is with D.E.D. that the band surprises us, offering an even more Old School approach with blues roots, but which also includes organ parts and vocals that are much rawer and hoarser than usual. This new mix appears much more imposing and dramatic than the previous tracks, but it comes to an end to let A Beautiful End introduce some cybernetic whispers and finally an anguished dungeon-like atmosphere in which the musicians evolve, even laying down a solo that is even more tortured than usual before a very thick finale that closes the album.
Between horrific sounds and vintage influences, Pale Horse Ritual distills a warm sound that is sometimes distressing but always heavy. Diabolic Formation is the worthy heir to the 70s’ smoking Stoner, enhanced with interesting occult touches.
75/100
