| The motivational lyrics, infused with positive mental attitude and stoicism, all under the Native American spiritual culture, are now a trademark of the band and with ‘Ritual’, when you thought you couldn’t dig deeper into these subjects, the band explores and even goes straight to the core matter that afflicted a minority: the residential schools tragedy.
‘Ritual’ tells the story of the last two indigenous people speaking a language soon to be forgotten. The twins, a boy and a girl, were sent to two different residential schools and were told that there was no one else left from their Nation and they needed to forget everything they might remember from it, either language or culture. Secretly, they continued practicing their idiom, hoping to escape and find their twin somewhere in the world. The boy ends up escaping school and starts a lifelong journey which leads him to meeting his sister on his death bed. The album tells a story of pride, strength, pain, but also ultimate joy and fulfillment in being who you truly and deeply are.
Alessandro Del Vecchio:
“‘Ritual’ is not just our next album, but it’s the record that makes EDGE OF FOREVER a much stronger band. I’m so grateful that Aldo, Nik, and Marco have brought their songs, ideas, and personality to the table making this album our best and more personal one. While talking about what happened at Residential Schools and trying to channel every bit of pain, sadness, and terror that Native Americans had to endure during those years, I, as always, tried to bring a positive message where resilience and pride meet encouraging all of us to be the best that we can really be, while never forgetting our roots, culture, and, definitely, who we really are.”
While ‘Seminole’ was created around the title track mini-suite, ‘Ritual’ brings strong progressive elements, intricate arrangements, and multi-layered vocals front and center on the 21-minute suite of the same title, which ends the story at the highest peak of the band’s creation.
Alessandro Del Vecchio’s crystal clear production brings every detail upfront and makes the whole band’s delivery powerful while throwing the listener into the center of the band’s own sound.
‘Ritual’ sees the whole band writing and working as a full unit bringing new elements where melody, power, depth, and heaviness all meet together in an album that makes EDGE OF FOREVER a unique case in today’s musical environment. |
