RITUAL – THE STORY OF MR. BOGD, PART 1 (2024) (Karisma Records)

I saw Ritual at a Rotherham Classic Rock Society gig back in the 90s- they formed in 1993 and, apparently this is their first album in 17 years. Their new album, available on different kinds of vinyl and CD, is the first part of a conceptual series inspired by Tove Jansson’s Moomin stories.

After a melodic opener comes the rhythmic hook-laden ‘The Inn of the Haunted Owl’. Folk music is never far from their agenda with a wide variety of traditional instrumentation including bouzouki, mandola and a type of keyed fiddle called a nyckelharpa. A mix of instrumentals and compact progressively inclined songs, ‘Read All About It’ features YES-like vocal harmonies and play. The long wait has been worth it.