DRIDGE — Gritual (review)

DRIDGE — Gritual album cover EP · 2013 · Death-Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Gritual" is an EP release by US, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based death/doom metal act Dridge. The EP was released digitally and on cassette tape in June 2013. Dridge formed in 2011 and "Gritual" is their first release.

Stylistically the material on "Gritual" is a combination of death/doom metal and heavier and slower funeral doom metal parts. It´s safe to say that "Gritual" is a brick heavy release featuring a gloomy and depressive atmosphere. The vocals are intelligible semi-growling, aggressive and pretty mean sounding. The death/doom metal sections remind me slightly of the New York death/doom metal act Winter and their 1990 album "Into Darkness". There´s some of the same almost ritualistic simplicity to the riffs and rhythms, which should (or could) have been pretty tedious, but work well here. Dridge understand the importance of variation, and although "Gritual" is predominantly a doomy release, they do incorporate mid-paced and slightly faster sections. The darkly atmospheric ambient section which dominates the mid-section of the title track is also a nice touch.

Featuring 3 tracks and a total playing time of 24:12 minutes (the cassette tape version features the same 3 tracks on both sides), "Gritual" is at all times an engaging listen, and although you won´t hear much here you haven´t heard before, Dridge are a well playing trio unit, who deliver their heavy music with both passion and conviction. "Gritual" also features a raw, heavy, and detailed sound production, suiting the material perfectly and upon conclusion it´s a good quality first release from Dridge. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.
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