Review WARNING “Rituals of Shame”

The sun is blazing outside, temperatures are pushing close to 40 degrees Celsius, and the smartest move is to close the blinds and keep the heat at bay. In the resulting darkness, however, another kind of chill awaits – Warning and their latest album, Rituals of Shame.

The record marks the third full-length release in the band’s history. Formed in 1994, Warning have experienced several periods of inactivity over the past three decades. Following their second breakup, the band reunited in 2016, and since then Patrick Walker, Wayne Taylor, Marcus Hatfield, and Andy Prestidge have embarked on a new creative chapter that now culminates in this highly anticipated studio album.

Warning have always occupied a unique place within the doom metal landscape. Their music is built on massive riffs, crushing atmosphere, and an emotional depth that few bands can match. These songs are the very opposite of joy. Slow-moving and profoundly affecting, they wrap the listener in a blanket of melancholy and reflection.

The twelve-minute title track embodies everything that makes Warning so compelling. A monumental piece filled with gloom, sorrow, and quiet desperation, “Rituals of Shame” sets the tone for an album that captivates from beginning to end. Its mournful melodies and crushing emotional weight cast a spell that is difficult to escape.

Warning excel at creating songs that feel like monuments to sadness. “Night Comes Down” unfolds at a deliberate, almost snail-like pace, drawing the listener deeper into the album’s bleak atmosphere. “Landing Lights” continues along a similar path, maintaining the record’s overwhelming sense of melancholy. These are songs so steeped in sorrow that they could turn colorful tulips black.

Closing track “Teacher” offers no relief from the emotional heaviness. Instead, Warning remain fully committed to their artistic vision, delivering another slow-burning and deeply moving composition. There are no sudden bursts of optimism or unexpected twists; the band stays true to its signature approach until the very last note.

Rituals of Shame is a monolith of sadness, longing, and introspection. It is an album that demands emotional investment and rewards listeners with an experience of remarkable intensity. Few bands can transform despair into something so captivating and beautiful.

Just don’t forget—beyond the drawn curtains and the mournful soundscapes, there is still sunlight waiting outside.