Ramesses

Possessed by the Rise of Magik - Justin Broadrick Mix

Ramesses, for me, offer the most interesting take on doom by a good furlong, and they've now called on the esteemed Justin Broadrick to remix their drugged occult opus 'Possesed by the Rise of Magik'.  It's included on a special limited-edition double vinyl edition of the album. Having already pinned full marks on this creation last year, I was keen to see how Broadrick's vision changed the experience.

Where the original mix roars and screams, sometimes overwhelmed by a kind of untethered cacophony, this has a more intimate, sinister atmosphere akin to a candlelit performance in the Paris catacombs (Ramesses surrounded by skull-studded walls of death nougat, oh fucking yes). The drums, while not dominant, are much more prominent and given room to breathe, as are the vocals. When Ramesses hit a lead break, the guitar tracks are usually pushing the red, and you get a ripped, rotten canopy of noise that is very much part of their distinctive sound. Broadrick has a more focused take on 'Invisible Ritual's lysergic soup…the white noise is dimmed, but the poltergeist is still there.  

Other tasty treats include 'Safety in Numbness' and the title track, which fizz with a previously untapped subterranean Martin Hannett post-punk vibe, providing a completely new perspective. Released as a deluxe red foiled gatefold, with full colour inner sleeves, there are 800 copies of 180 gram black vinyl and 200 copies of 180 gram clear red vinyl. A lifetime of listening pleasure awaits. Handle with care and give it space: so deep and intense is this meeting of minds, that everything else might sound a bit tame in comparison.  

The band are on the road this week (commencing 6 August 2012) with Eyehategod and Dopefight.  Yeah, it'll be so intense it will make you cry like a little baby.  Cancel your life and get to one of the following dates:

Aug 6 2012 – The Haunt / Brighton
Aug 7 2012 – The Fleece / Bristol (with EYEHATEGOD & Dopefight)
Aug 8 2012 – Academy 3 / Manchester (with EYEHATEGOD & Dopefight)
Aug 9 2012 – The Garage / London (with EYEHATEGOD & Dopefight)
Aug 10 2012 – SuperNormal Festival / Braziers Park – Oxfordshire
Sep 14 2012 – Incubate Festival, O13 Tilburg, Netherlands  

#Albums #doom #Psychedelic #Ramesses #Ritual Productions #Darren Bibby