RITES TO RUIN
Daughter Of Hatred
Independent

“Daughter Of Hatred” is the debut full-length album by British band RITES TO RUIN, and it is an infectious, groove laden shot in the arm and exactly what heavy metal needed in 2025.

Before we look ahead, let’s take a look back. RITES TO RUIN formed in South Wales in 2019 and have had a steady line-up since the beginning. Singles “Santanico” in 2020 and “Forsaken” in 2021 preceded the “Fire” EP which included two other tracks, “Rise” and “Fire”, which have been given an update for the upcoming album, out on the 30th June.

The new album is 10 tracks spanning over 55 minutes which gives you plenty of time to bask in all of the glorious sound-scapes, soaring vocals, amazing musicianship, fantastic song writing and beautifully clear production. The album also really rewards you for repeat listens as you discover new surprises each time, there is definitely treasure buried in each song so grab your adventuring headphones, sit back and enjoy.

Fronted by the vocal powerhouse that is Krissie Kirby with Lee Cartner and Matt Chambers the Wizards on guitars, Paul Boschen the Rogue on bass and Zak Skane the Warlock on drums, this Party is clearly ready for the adventure that awaits.

Why all the D&D references you may ask, well, all will be revealed in time.

“Daughter Of Hatred” opens up with the title track and it is a wondrous throw down of a gauntlet to the rest of the bands in the traditional heavy metal genre… if you intend to release anything this year you better be ready as this is phenomenal!

An ominous spoken word passage gets the track started before a driving riff and thunderous drums amp up the atmosphere. Krissie‘s soaring vocals are mesmerising, it’s almost as if Lilith herself is giving a rallying call to her Minions in the heart of Sanctuary.

“Prevail” ups the pace with its thrash metal vibes, the galloping drums again are just such a driving force and the bass work is absolutely stellar. The crisp production really brings out all of the fine details, flourishes and delicate work that sometimes go unnoticed. The guitar work is also flawless, the interplay is wonderful, the tones, the riffs, it is all such a joyous listen.

“In Memoriam”’s guitar solos are truly a thing of beauty. I think I went back at least 5 times in one listening session. They are layered over some fantastic riffing too which gives the song such a dynamic sound, a definite album highlight, one of many.

“For The Love Of Gold” sees us meet in a Tavern, wait… sorry, I had a flashback to the beginning of my last D&D game. Anyway, this song deserves a special mention as it is definitely a nerdy nod to some of the band’s hobbies and influences and it soars along beautifully.

Two songs that get a fresh twist from the band’s EP are “Fire” and “Rise” and both sit very well on the album. From reading an interview with Krissie, the band always intended for “Fire” to be on the album but they felt that “Rise” wasn’t where they wanted it to be musically so they added some guitars to the beginning and some vocal harmonies and the results are pure magic.

“Free” is a mid-tempo anthem of rebellion, the riffs are chunky but full of groove and Krissie throws a bit of soul into her vocals which give it this classic feel and it all works so well.

“Sorrow” and “Envy” are the final two tracks that help bring the album to a close and what a journey it has been. “Sorrow” is a classic heavy metal ballad full of emotion whilst “Envy” builds on a wonderful guitar melody that then breaks into a very catchy riff, relentless in its pursuit of getting you to nod your head along with it. It’s a fantastic song and a great way for the album to end. You won’t quite believe that 55 minutes have passed by, the songs keep you engaged and hooked for every second so you will find yourself hitting repeat straight away, as it is all so good you just want more.

RITES TO RUIN are definitely on the path to (Natural 20) critical success with “Daughter Of Hatred” and it would not surprise me if it ended up on many heavy metal ‘Best Of’ lists come the end of the year. The band should be very proud of what they have accomplished here and I hope they get all of the success and attention that they deserve with this amazing album.

Russell Mulock-Bentley