Canadian post-Screamo merchants Lowheaven open Ritual Decay (MNRK Heavy) with a swell of noisy ambiance, setting the stage for an explosion of screamo intensity against a stark, apocalyptic mood that bears more resemblance to Neurosis. The sung vocals add a melodic counterpoint that might remind you of Glassjaw. They are prone to hover over crushing Sludge-drenched stomps to give the album its heavier edge. These are often broken up by atmospheric guitar passages before reaching their scathing climax.

The album carries a great deal of dynamic ebb and flow as “Chemical Pattern” is driven by a more frantic punk desperation, where a song like. “Cancer Sleep” works off a more deliberate catharsis. The screamed vocals are used as a more effective accent here, as low-barked vocals that feel like a staple of sludge also surface, as an array of vocal colors plays to this album’s strengths.

The pace picks up into a more urgent strum on “Nothing Else Frail,” the vocals occupying a more hardcore-like place in the song. They ease things down from the higher energy tension to create a wider scope of dynamics for the song. “Amherst” employs sung vocals over a more haunting atmosphere that is sure to raise comparisons to Deftones. The explosive outburst in the song is more volatile than anything the nu-metal godfathers have done in recent years. “Mercy Death” carries more dissonance in its stomp, the vocals offering a more ambient texture to create a juxtaposition in the sonic dynamic. Where the chorus would fall, there is a screamed outburst.

“Fucking Hell” finds the two polarities they craft their sound with clashing more than blending, perhaps because the harsher tones are heavier and the more melodic vocals are mellower. This song requires a few listens to sink in. Then there is a song like “Fighter Valley” that clicks with you right away thanks to the cool vocal melody at its center. These vocals are introspective, creating a melodic backbone for them to explore. It’s darker than some of the heavier moments, and perhaps it’s the album’s strongest song.

It would have amused me if the song called “Violence” had a ballad; instead, there are bizarre moments that carry a touch of deranged Noise Rock experimentation, broken up by a more epic chorus. Interesting production choices that create a personality for the sound. Like many of the songs in the album’s third act, the last song is another one that might take a few listens to process the chaotic catharsis that unfolds. The impactful chord progressions create a downtrodden mood that anchors the song. Suppose you like where the underground of metal went in the mid-2000s, while the mainstream scene was keeping up with the algorithm of Myspace. In that case, this album is for you, as it is an emotionally poignant picture of heartfelt Hardcore with its painful declarations.

Buy the album here:
https://lowheaven.ffm.to/ritualdecay

9 / 10
WIL CIFER
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