One more SIX FEET UNDER release and everybody is impatient to face the extreme brutalism of Chris Barnes for one more time. This guy has proven that he is one of the best Death Metal singers out there (except from the unfortunate performance in 13, an album that didn't match my expectations). TO tell you the truth, the band has disappointed me a bit with its recent releases, but I just hope they will take the road towards success for one more time, since they really know how to write some kick ass music.

I believe that the Tampa, Florida based death metallers need no introduction. If you don't know these guys, it seems that you didn't study enough to be a metalhead. They have been delivering quality Death Metal since 1993, so as you can easily understand 15 years in this scene are a respectable history. The fact is that as I said above, their works after the incredible Bringer Of Blood, which fucking kills in my humble opinion, are not as good as they should be for a band with the level of SIX FEET UNDER.

With their new album, SIX FEET UNDER continue the legacy of boredom they have lately created, since almost every tune is nothing more than monotonous and simple riffs. The once high and mighty metallers are now locked in their safe castle avoiding to make their sound a bit more modern and interesting, something that they always did in the past. Many accused SFU of selling out or said that they are not a Death Metal band, but the groove magicians answered with amazing albums and a career full of success.

Death Rituals has many vulnerable points like the weak riffing, which was once their strongest weapon, the simple compositions and the lack of passion. What if the production kills for one more time? Fortunately today's metalheads are not that stupid to judge an album by its crystal clear and heavy sound. And let me also add the out of the blue Crossroads To Armageddon song, which has nothing to do in such an album. It is honestly almost a Dark Ambient song!

I guess that Barnes and his comrades have to try hard now to reclaim their lost gloriousness. Is the band slowly fading? Have the SIX FEET UNDER members lost their interest in creating new and groovy music? I don't know, but what I see is an album that is characterized by an absence of passion. A wind of fresh air would surely do much for this band right now.