Exclusive Interview: Rituals talk new EP “Show Me The Signs”!

The beginning of the month of September saw the second EP “Show Me The Signs” from Newcastle’s Rituals land, a record which continues the evolution of their sound into heavier territories. Given the critical acclaim around their debut EP “Awake” following a trio of huge singles, the record was firmly on the highly anticipated list and the band did nothing to disappoint with another trio of killer cuts that speak volumes about the bands growing song-writing prowess and musical maturity while still having the edge in the riff department. We had a chat with them about the new record and it went something like this…

How have you found the reaction to “Show Me The Signs” so far? After the success of your last EP “Awake” did you feel any pressure going into recording your sophomore record? “The demos for the new EP were done before AWAKE was out, so this time around we jammed them together as a band and confidence grew as we made changes and played them all together”

The new record appears one day short of a calendar year after the last one, so how has the past twelve months treated you? “Brilliantly! We’ve supported the likes of Skindred and Osiah, and been slowly building our fan base”

You’ve been announced for Hammerfest XIV 2023 and will share the stage with the likes of Evile, Gama Bomb, Lordi and Discharge. You must be stoked to be joining such household names in Birmingham in February? “Of course, we are more than ready to get up there and show people who Rituals are with an energetic live show filled with riffs!”

If we are the product of our genes and influences, what’s in your Jeans and who would you consider your influences? “While She Sleeps, Bleed From Within and Architects from the metal scene, and artists like Depeche Mode Oasis and Nine Inch Nails from other genres”

If you had the opportunity to work with a guest the next time around, who would you like to bring into the studio to work on a cut with you and why? “We are dying to get Benji from Skindred on a tune at some point, fingers crossed we can make it happen!”

What’s next for Rituals? “Relentless touring for our new EP, and continue working on new music, we are really excited with the direction it is heading in!”

“Show Me The Signs” by Rituals is out now!