Ritualby The Black Dahlia Murder

With their 5th full-length, The Black Dahlia Murder erase any doubt they are the leading death metal band in the world today. After the somewhat disappointing "Deflorate" in 2009, The Black Dahlia Murder has reemerged with the most focused album of their career. In "Ritual", BDM ratchet up every level of their sound to the most extreme--including for once a notable amount of experimentation. Nowhere is this more apparent than the bizarrely wonderful "Den of the Picaresque"--which winds and plays with brass and string instruments over its less than 2 minute run time. Of course, the more traditional BDM songs are all resounding successes, with "On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood" being the most crushing song they have ever written and "Blood In The Ink" and "Moonlight Equilibrium" not far behind. On "Ritual", BDM have finally carved out their own niche without aping At The Gates. Recommended for all fans of metal, this is a serious contender for best of the year.