So after couple of years (three, to be more precise) it’s here. The band Rites Of Undeath holed up into the studio to crawl out again later with this picture-card from the world of mental shadows. I really have to say that the title The Asylum goes great with the music.

So let’s go. Short keyboards, frantic bass and here it rolls. Thrashing from the beginning till the end, in places interrupted by keyboard part or slower atmospheric tirade. Guitars roll it bravely. swap brutal shaving with more complicated riffs a complement to each other Also the “rhythmic section” – drums and bass – plays superb. Of vocal side takes care Wisdoms raven screaming that from time to time falls also to lower tessitura.

The music really flatters my ears. What doesn’t flatter me so much, is the sound. But beware, now it’s only my personal opinion. The sound of guitars seems veiled and few expressive to me. I simply like sharper and more biting guitar sound. Also the bass guitar sound seems too unexpressive and drawn to me. Also because I know what Ozon is able to do with it, I’d prefer if it was more audible. Also keyboards would deserve brighter sound spread much more to stereo.

The cherry on the pie for PC users is live clip Ritual Rape from Rock Café. But this cherry is strongly wormy and the worm is tragic sound quality. It is a raw camera recording, sound obviously from the camera mic. No plus.

On the contrary what I have to four-square commend are lyrics and booklet. The lyrics are, much like music, very colorful and full of invention and greatly support the gloomy atmosphere. And special notice is certainly worth also the cover and booklet, which is made nicely and precisely, filled with gloomy photos “from the asylum”.

Well and the summary in the end – I like this music. Death / black metal, colorful, inventive, variable, but not over-combined, without any “modern elements”. Simply good music. Tly in the oinment is in my opinion the sound, but it is a matter of personal preferences, everyone enjoys different feed for his ears. Anyway I didn’t hear Rites Of Undeath for a long time and I have to admit, that they surprised me pleasantly.