Pure Steel Records are pleased to announce the recent signing of American Heavy Metal band RITUAL. The band, led by vocalist Juan Ricardo (Sunless Sky/Wretch) recently contacted our offices to share some great news with us.

 

"Hello my good friend! YES. Ritual are signed to Pure Steel Records and we are reissuing our classic "Trials of Torment" album as a 30 year anniversary edition to celebrate the band's long history. The album will feature new artwork and mastering. Also, a brand new track along with live tracks as bonus material. RITUAL will present an OFFICAL music video of the new track "Beyond the Sea" which is currently being edited".

 

Ricardo further states, "RITUAL 'The Trials of Torment' went to Number 1 in Germany and Belgium in the summer of 1992, but, unfortunately, we were never able to tour there. So in view of this, we will soon announce a European tour of Germany and Belgium beginning from March 11th through March 18th including an appearance at the Full Metal Festival on March 16th in Niederjossa, Germany! We look forward to seeing all of you there".

 

Release date of this album with further details will soon be announced. Finally, watch for the bands OFFICIAL Tour Dates in their Face Book page EVENTS section!

 

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https://www.facebook.com/Ritual-Cleveland

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Juan Ricardo (Sunless Sky, Wretch, ex-Attaxe, ex-Zyklone, ex-Arenah, ex-Ritual of Torment, ex-Torment, ex-Chemikill, ex-Dark Arena, ex-Stryker, ex-Warmaster) – vocals

Bob Allerton (ex-Abduction, ex-Chronic Rage, ex-Ritual of Torment, ex-Rotterdam, ex-Torment) – guitars

Joe Kilcoyne (ex-Mushroomhead, ex-Spudmonsters, ex-Mystik) – bass

Mike Ruzsbanszki (Kriadiaz, ex-Ritual of Torment, ex-Torment) – guitars

Emery Ceo (Kriadiaz, ex-Arenah, ex-Ritual of Torment, ex-Rotterdam, ex-Torment, S.O.S., ex-Dark Arena, ex-Integrity, ex-Blindside Blues Band, ex-Runt) – drums

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RITUAL was formed in the spring of 1988 out of the remnants of several popular cleveland bands. It all began when Lead Guitarist Bob Allerton and Drummer Emery Ceo were together in the melodic metal band Rotterdam. Deciding they wanted to go in a heavier direction they joined forces with Guitarist Mike Ruz and Bassist Jack Kilcoyne. They were soon joined by Vocalist John Marshall and after only a few weeks of rehearsal they entered a studio and completed their first demo under the name TORMENT.

 

The release was an immediate hit on college metal radio stations and they were soon back in the studio to record a second demo. Spring of 1989 saw the release of " The Gathering" which drew even more fans to their exciting heavy yet melodic style. Torment was soon signed to Auburn records which included them on their "Heavy Artillery" compiliation in 1990. Late that year Torment decided to part ways with original vocalist John Marshall who tragically died in car crash a couple years later.... As fate would have it, also signed to Auburn and on that same compiliation was Vocalist Juan Ricardo, singing for the band Attaxe. Juan's range and vocal style were a perfect match for Torment and he joined the group in December of that year.

 

Early in the summer of 1991 Torment entered the studio again where they recorded their 3rd demo "Relapse of Aggression". Dispaying a new vocal sound and a more intense, focused musical style, the demo drew rave reviews from critics, radio and fans alike. Soon "Relapse" was distributed in Europe where it became an underground success and where it caught the attention of newly formed Massacre records who signed them early in 1992.

 

Flown to Germany in the summer of 1992, the members began work on their debut album and the band's name was changed to RITUAL to avoid confusion with a European death metal act. After just 13 days of recording "The Trials of Torment" was released to incredible response. The debut single "She Rides the Sky" was soon the #1 requested song in many European metal stations which drove the sales of the album to #1 on the metal charts of Germany, Belguim and Austria.

 

Meanwhile the band returned to America to find that there was no American distribution of the album....discouraged the members of Ritual splintered into other projects.... Bassist Jack joined the newly formed Mushroomhead, Lead Guitarist Bob formed Chronic Rage, Guitarist Mike and Drummer Emery went on to form Kriadiaz and Vocalist Juan began a project that eventually would be called Dark Arena....

 

So the unbelievable promise that Ritual could have been was left unfulled nearly 3 decades ago.... til 2018... When the members were asked if they would perform a reunion concert at the 2018 Pure Steel Records Metalfest to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the forming of the band...Ritual took the stage for the first time in over 25 years, this time with new Bassist Joe Kilcoyne, who had replaced his younger brother Jack in the lineup.... The response from that performance was so great that Pure Steel decided to release a 30th anniversary reissue edition of "The Trials of Torment" and Ritual will perform in Europe for the first time ever this spring in 2019.

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1993 - Trials of Torment
1995 - Relapse of Aggression - EP