Shell by Ritual Cloak: Review

by Damien Reid January 10, 2023

January 10, 2023

Shell by Ritual Cloak: Review

Ritual Cloak is a fascinating post-rock duo that distinguishes itself from its contemporaries and returns with its striking new track ‘Shell’. They also enjoy ambient, drone, neoclassical, cinematic, alternative pop, and electronic music, and Shell is a fantastic example of these components combined in a fine piece of musical creation. The new tune is described as being in a dream where you’re continually looking for someone but never quite finding them.

It’s a concept that’s been floating around for a few years and has gone through several iterations before reaching what it is now. The song embodies melancholy beauty and fragile emotional storytelling. You have the sensation of flying through poetry. The song is about being in a dream where one is searching for someone but never quite finds them. The song’s overall tone is mellow and melancholy, with traces of anticipation of what is desired. The rhythm is slow and burning, with emotions steadily developing. A lovely, sorrowful piano tune is embellished with softly spoken, high-pitched, and intensely impassioned voices. From the middle until the end of the song, some distortion noises are introduced, followed by a very dark electric guitar and loud, exciting drumming.

‘Shell’ was originally composed for acoustic guitar and had a very different vibe. The piano, which generates a stirring motion with the rhythmic loops, the tone of the keys, and the positioning of the breaks in the notes all contribute to the magnificence of this production, which sums up a pleasurable and relaxing experience.