Ritual - 2024 - The Story of Mr. Bogd. Part 1

(45:36; Karisma Records)

Track list:
1. A Hasty Departure 6:28
2. The Inn of The Haunted Owl 4:47
3. Dreams in a Brougham 3:39
4. Chichikov Bogd 4:19
5. Mr. Tilly and His Gang 3:09
6. Through a Rural Landscape 3:03
7. The Feline Companion 5:41
8. Read All About It! 4:17
9. Forgotten Qualities 6:16
10. The Three Heads of the Well 3:57

Line-up:
Jon Gamble - keyboards, vocals
Fredrik Lindqvist - bass, bouzouki, dulcimer, recorders, whistles, vocals
Patrik Lundström - vocals, guitar, bouzouki
Johan Nordgren - drums, nyckelharpa, vocals
with:
Lovisa Hallstedt - violin
Fabian Lundström - voice, vocals
Mark Evitts - violin, viola
Emily Nelson Rodgers - cello


Prolusion.
Swedish band Ritual have been a feature in the progressive rock scene for more than 30 years at this point, and they released their debut album all the way back in 1995. Three more studio albums would appear over the next decade and a bit, but following their fourth album "The Hemulic Voluntary Band" in 2007 Ritual disappeared from sight for a good while. Now in 2024 the band is back with their fifth album "The Story of Mr. Bogd. Part 1" on Norwegian label Karisma Records, presumably with a Part 2 to follow sometime in the not too distant future.

Analysis.
I remember that I was quite enamoured with Ritual's previous album when it appeared almost 20 years ago, and "The Hemulic Voluntary Band" has been something of a mainstay album for me ever since. One of those albums I return to and listen to again on a fairly regular basis. And while the subject matter of the songs themselves have changed quite a bit since 2007, no Moomins are around on this occasion, the band sounds like the same band that made this, for me at least, quite brilliant Moomins-themed album back in 2007.

The booming bass guitar is present to drive the songs forward and onward in an energetic manner, backed by an accomplished drummer. The guitars are gentle and alluring and subtle on many occasions, but deliver grit and determination when required and the haunting and playful guitar solo runs haven't been forgotten either. The keyboards are tasteful and elegant as well as dark toned, haunting and ominous. Depending on the requirement of the phase and the song. And, indeed. we do get a bit of Mellotron too. As well as instruments of various kinds catering for an array of folk music details.

This is a folk music flavored variety of progressive rock that flirt just a little bit with the symphonic progressive rock tradition at times and adds in a touch of classic era hard rock. With a scattering of impulses from the more expressive sides of the progressive rock spectrum. And on this album with world music elements and a little bit of jazz thrown in for good measure.

And this is a very solid comeback album for the band indeed, with numerous songs that for me at least manage to elevate themselves up into the stratosphere of musical magic. From gentle melancholic instrumentals existing in the twilight mood of Scandinavian folk music to spirited and engaging ventures into a Middle Eastern flavored variety of tight progressive rock. From enthralling and hauntingly beautiful moments of light toned bliss and onto dark, ominous and just as breathtaking parts celebrating the beauty of darkness. Open, loose and minimal arrangements celebrating the beauty to be made with vocals and a select few instruments to rich, layered and engaging constructions with the band blazing ahead at full steam and with a hard and tight punch. Intricate instrument details and movements and expressive attitudes coexist quite nicely with a relaxed, simple and straight forward execution here too. The use of contrasting elements on several different levels is a speciality of this band, and they use such contrasts to very good effect throughout this production.

While vocals is a matter of subjective taste, for me at least the lead vocals and the vocal harmonies are clear highlights for this band. Both of them are factors that for me manage to elevate the experience to a higher level throughout. Perhaps not as standalone elements, but the expression and execution within the framework they are a part of is, in my opinion, excellent all the way. Well planned and well executed parts of the totality that adds that additional sparkle that manage to engage me analytically as well as emotionally.

Conclusion.
I don't know why Ritual aren't a well established household name in the progressive rock scene, as the quality of the music I have encountered by them over the years, at least in my opinion, certainly merits many high accolades. If you enjoy a blend of vibrant and energetic progressive rock and mellow and melancholic landscapes as well as the contrast between dark, haunting and ominous landscapes and light and positive attitudes this is an album you probably should investigate. Especially if a folk and world music flavored  variety of progressive rock with expressive attitudes, a bit of classic era hard rock energy and a slight touch of symphonic progressive rock elegance sounds like music you would enjoy.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, August 2024

Links:
https://www.ritual.se/
https://www.karismarecords.no/