Falling somewhere between grunge, nu metal, sludge, and stoner rock, Ostraka’s ‘Ritual’ is a mesmerizing blend of heaviness and glamour that left us thirsty for more.
A self-proclaimed grunge quartet hailing from Dundee, Scotland, Ostraka seem to favor showcasing elements of their love for grunge through Deftones-inspired songwriting and arranging, blended with the sheen of murky glamour associated with the music of Alice in Chains, all the while the guitars blaze certainly heavier than either of those names.
‘Ritual’ falls at the farthest end of Ostraka’s latest album Magistri, conceived by the quartet during a year of intensive jamming. ‘Ritual’ is a flurry of foreboding, in-your-face guitar riffs overlaying a steady and menacing rhythm section, all together making the song sound similar to Tool’s earliest releases, without all the mathematical mayhem. The brash production quite richly captures the band’s inherent tightness and musical cohesion, through the faltering tempo and improvised passages, resulting in a live set that sounds alive and breathing.
Magistri is a delightful find, and ‘Ritual’ is an intoxicating cut that showcases all the wonderful drama this new Scottish band has to offer.
