ZOMBIE RITUAL -

ZOMBIE RITUAL - NIGHT OF THE ZOMBIE PARTY - RAZORBACK
Sometimes, and that sometimes comes often, one suspects that the folk at Razorback Records really believe in zombies. It is as if the staffers there sit around and plan their activities around zombies. Will zombies buy this album, would zombies accept the new artwork, can our zombie distribution network take more CDs, last week I hit a zombie on the way to work, the office upstairs is rented by a lovely zombie couple, etc. would be probable samples of conversation going on at Razorback Records' office.
The label's latest foray into the sub-genre it has made all its own is Japan's Zombie Ritual. Lest the monicker makes the Japanese four sound like a Death-clone band banish the thought (mostly). The four like to bump and grind their instruments with all sorts of speeds, careless drumming, fun dual-vocal screaming and a guitarist who has to hide half his ability in order to maintain his gory cover. It is extreme sure, but listen for the almost commercial-sounding melody on Zombie Axe Massacre, the sample on Zombie Party, the doomy start to Die Zombie Die and the general guitar soloing to infer that there is more going on here than the belch of a putrid living dead. Sure, every single fucking title has a 'zombie' in it, but no matter; the undead do not need that much variety in their lives. - Ali "The Metallian"