Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Samael - Blood Ritual (1992)

Although I've just recently sworn off black metal (again), I don't mind revisiting an album by a band that started off as black metal but then became the Swiss leaders of industrial/symphonic metal. I actually like Blood Ritual slightly more than a couple of Samael's industrial metal albums that I reviewed. There's simpler yet more effective production than their debut Worship Him. While their debut has constantly switched back and forth from fast to slow, Blood Ritual focuses on the slower pace more.

The sound is actually pretty clean! Their savage filth from the debut has mostly been cleared out. The music isn't played for shock value, instead opting for simple catchiness in the riffing. They still have their dark side though, appropriately timed in places.

It's interesting how the intro is titled "Epilogue". Unnecessary but nicely leads to the first song. "Beyond the Nothingness" kicks off the simple riffing that you can headbang to repeatedly from start to finish. Then we have "Poison Infiltration" which is a bit weak but has good atmosphere. "After the Sepulture" follows as the best song here and perhaps their black metal era. A remake exists but I prefer the crushing original more. With evil slow riffing and vicious vocals by Vorph, it's a destructive highlight.

"Macabre Operetta" is an interesting song. Dark acoustic and keyboards fade in before bringing in more of the slow guitar riffing. Having originated from the demo of the same name, it brings more life to the vocals, especially in the cleaner production. The title track is also from that demo and has the tight speed of their debut album. If you're here for the fast drums and guitars, congratulations, you found it! Then there's another interlude, "Since the Creation". It leads to "With the Gleam of the Torches", another favorite track of mine here. A catchy intro melody leads to another slow banger of a riff. The cool riffing goes up and down without much sweat.

"Total Consecration" only consists of synthesized piano with varied effects. Though there is a vocal section with lyrics referring to the eponymous blood ritual ready to commence. It then leads to "Bestial Devotion". That song and "Until the Chaos" have nice flow with each other, but they aren't really the best way to end this album. It's still worth listening to for the sake of completion.

Blood Ritual brings evil darkness to a more subtle direction. Their black metal sound here is so slow/mid-paced that I can almost consider it black-doom. Soft ambient keyboards and heavy fist-pumping riffs can make an excellent match. This offering is for black metal fans who can listen to albums like this in its entirety!

Favorites: "Beyond the Nothingness", "After the Sepulture", "Macabre Operetta", "Blood Ritual", "With the Gleam of the Torches"