The recent rise of AI generated music has unfortunately thrown an element of shade over the work of the humble one-man project, with some people becoming a little suspicious of anything being released that does not bear band photos, bio's or concert footage. Desert Psychlist can however allay your fears by telling you that Burn Ritual, the brainchild of muti-instrumentalist Jake W Lewis, is not the offspring of an AI computer programme but a well put together one-man project with the man himself playing all the instrumentation, the only programmes used being those to needed splice all the different parts together in a recognisable musical form. That out of the way let's now inform you that Burn Ritual (Jake) has a new release out, a collection of Sabbathian influence grooviosity going by the title "House Of The Wicked", four songs of horror/occult inspired grooviness, spliced with occasional sampled narrative, the perfect soundtrack for the shorter days and longer nights of the winter season.
When Desert Psychlist reviewed Burn Ritual's previous release "Grave Watcher" we remarked that there was an early Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats vibe to a couple of the albums songs and if anything that vibe is even more pronounced on "House Of The Wicked". Opening song "Night Demon" has, when you get past the songs narrated intro sample, that same lilting melody over crunching heaviness thing going on that Uncle Acid made their own before going down the avant-garde/experimental rabbit hole, the only difference being that Jake approaches the songs groove here from a much more proto-metallic/doom angle. Follow up "Look What We've Done", sees Jake crunching out circular guitar and bass riffs over steady solid rhythm patterns and embellishing those riffs with short sharp but tasteful solos, layering over the results a double tracked clean vocal melody that is pure candy for the ears. Things get a little traditionally doomic and bluesy for next song "Your Wicked Mind" Jake opting for a less is more policy by allowing his guitar tones to reverberate and sustain just that little longer to add extra atmosphere to the proceedings, Jake twinning those tones with low level flying bass motifs, swirling solos and keyboard effects to ramp up the songs impact, and let us not forget those vocals which are a blend of sneery malevolence and menace-lite haziness. It's all aboard the hazy crazy train for last song "Of Beast And Man" a delicious slice of psychedelic doominosity that initially has Jake's heavily filtered vocals coming at you from all angles over a low slow stoner doom groove but then goes up a gear to finish on a wave of dank, and totally unexpected, boogie-woogie.
Let us take a moment to remember that their are still talented musicians out there making real music; not just with fellow musicians but also on their own in studios, in bedrooms, and in one extreme case a car. The contributions these lone musicians, hunched over their PC's, laptops etc. trying to put all the pieces together, make to our scene should not be underestimated. While their are people out like Jake W Lewis releasing music as good as that which can be found on "House Of The Wicked" then their is still hope for real music.
Check it out ....
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