The Best Band in New Mexico is Void Ritual
Back in August we asked you to help us find the best unsigned bands in America. After listening to hundreds of submissions, we finally narrowed down our pick for the most Enchanted state in the union! The best band in New Mexico is Void Ritual.
It’s hard for me to pick my least favorite aspect of New Mexico. I’m not sure if it’s the alarmingly high rate of violent crime, the mediocre state of infrastructure, the dire grip of alcoholism on the state’s populace, or the grim, living reminders of white Americans’ genocidal atrocities against Native Americans. You’d think that all of that squalor would produce the sort of hopelessly bereft emotional state conducive to crafting convincing art.
As it turns out, you’d be right! New Mexico was one of the hardest states for our judges to crown a victor because all of the choices were of such excellent caliber. However, after a vicious brouhaha that nearly resulted in a certain pumpkin baby being turned into pumpkin baby bread, we ultimately came to our senses and declared our loyalty to Void Ritual. What sets these Albuquerque heretics apart from the other unwashed masses of the New Mexico wastes? Expert songcraft, of course!
Those engaging Void Ritual will find blistering, unrepentant black metal with tremolo riffs more jagged than Sandia peak, vocals more desolate than the atomic desert of White Sands, and talent deeper than the Carlsbad Caverns. Songs flow seamlessly from slower, spiritual passages to visceral volcanic blasts with nary a hitch or odd note to be found. The entirety of Holodomor is beautiful and utterly enchanting. For this reason, we name Void Ritual the best unsigned band in New Mexico.
Here’s what some other chumps had to say:
Stockhausen: “Void Ritual’s searing brand of unforgiving black metal looks you straight in the eye as it stabs you in the guts. The heavy, yet razor sharp production wiggles the knife around, and… you know what? I’m going to stop forcing the knife analogies. I’m listening to this EP for the third time, and it just rules, plain and simple. I’m going to listen to it a whole bunch more and judge you if you don’t.”
Joe Thrashnkill: “Void Ritual’s Holodomor takes you on a trip through hell. No, not the hokey Pitchforks n’ SatanLand that metal cheekily celebrates. Instead, experience the hell on Earth that can only be perpetrated by humans. Have some light reading while exploring the horror.”
Honorable Mention: [H]ohm – The gnarliest of noise/doom – Bandcamp.
The Toilet ov Hell is on an absurd quest to find the best unsigned band in each state of this glorious union. The purpose? To shine the spotlight on bands that deserve more exposure. Also, we’re going to determine once and for all the greatest state in the nation. Each state winner is decided by a collection of 25 judges. After we’ve announced the winner of each state, we’re gonna throw them all in a winner-take-all bracket and leave the votes up to you. Who will be the best unsigned band in the United States? Which state is superior? We can’t wait to find out.
Previous winners:
Alabama — Phylum
Alaska — Terraform
Arizona – Take Over And Destroy
Arkansas – Torii
California – Destroy Judas
Colorado – The Sleer
Connecticut – Autumn’s Eyes
Delaware – Sloss
Florida – Capracide
Georgia – Lost Hours
Hawaii – Darkest Path
Idaho – Rotten Hand
Illinois – Deus Ex
Indiana – Thorr-Axe
Iowa – Blizzard at Sea
Kansas – Bummer
Kentucky – Ad Infinitum
Louisiana – Withering Light
Maine – Sylvia
Maryland – Bereave
Massachusetts – Scaphism
Michigan – Blackgate
Minnesota – Noble Beast
Mississippi – Jared Moran (Yzordderrex/Uzumaki)
Missouri – Existem
Montana – Martriden
Nebraska – Borealis
Nevada – Elephant Rifle
New Hampshire – Eerie
New Jersey – Black Table
(Photo VIA)
