One year since the release of their debut EP, and soon after their recent covers EP (feat. their cool alt versions of songs from Radiohead, Box Car Racer, Nirvana, and more), Naples, Italy based atmospheric indie rockers DEAD RITUALS are back with a trio of new tracks and new EP dubbed “Dead Rituals II“. The new offering takes on a different approach when compared to the band’s 2019 debut and showcases their post-punk matrix expanding with new ideas and forays into electronic sounds and acoustic instruments.
The first work was recorded solely by singer-songwriter Andrea Caccese. Songs were etched out on laptops and recorded in random rooms while traveling throughout the states, Australia, and Europe, while these new songs feature other collaborators. The tracks came out of a comfortable environment, filled with analog instruments and effects – more importantly, with creative friends. The final result is intuitive, collaborative, and immediate.
Today, we’re celebrating the release of the EP with a brand new music video, full record stream, and special first-hand commentary from DEAD RITUALS, touching on their local music scene, top records that inspired their sounds, as well as top 5 cities for great food stops on the road!
Asked about their local music community, the band commented: “We are a band from Naples, Italy, but to be honest I don’t really know much about the local scene. I spent the last 15 years of my life abroad, I just moved back a few months ago! Brita is from Australia and new to all of this. The other guys in the band, Guido, Stefano and Mattia are old friends, and I’ve known them for years, so it’s fun to play with them! The local scene revolves around jazz, funk, and other styles of music, so it definitely feels that we are a bit of an oddball project here. Not complaining at all by the way, I love the diversity of the music scene and I feel that the whole world of independent bands can support each other and be connected, regardless of where they are or what music they play.
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒!
If you like music in the vein of what we do, check out DIIV, Cloud Nothings, Francis Moon, Beach House…these are only some of our favorite artists that I think deserve more attention. Speaking of – if any of you guys know of any band that sounds like Dead Rituals (or maybe you play in one), feel free to reach out, always looking for more of this kind of music to listen to and share!”
Top 5 records that inspired our sound (by Dead Rituals)
Dead Rituals is a band made up of people who really love a diverse range of music. Some of us lean more towards punk rock, others have more experimental influences, and a few of us are into other styles, such as hip-hop and soul. Everything around us can be an influence, but these are some of the records that really help us shape up the musical vision for our band. I definitely recommend you check them out, and while you’re at it, listen to some of our stuff too!
The Cure – Disintegration
I love the fact that this album is dark and hauntingly beautiful, yet so catchy and easy to relate to!
Blink-182 – Untitled
This is the album that got me into music production as a kid, and I love how diverse it is. People tend to overlook this album because it is attached to a band like Blink, but I promise you, if this record was attached to a name with more “Indie cred,” it would be hailed as a milestone. I guarantee you that many bands that have an indie cool / cult status today have loved this record and sharpened their musical chops on it, even if they’ll never admit it!
Radiohead – In Rainbows
One of those perfect records. The songwriting, production and emotional impact of these songs is second to none, and we’re big fans of it. I love how this release is a defining moment for Thom Yorke & co, being somewhere in between their earlier alternative rock days and their more experimental side.
This Will Destroy You: Another Language
Slow-paced, yet intense and heavily beautiful, this is one of my favorite instrumental albums, and it unfolds with such beautifully cinematic moments. It’s not the kind of record you put in the background. You need to dim the lights, quite whatever you’re doing, and just listen.
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
This album was kind of revolutionary when it came out, and it really holds up to this day. It’s a perfect combination of that 2000s indie rock sounds, with some darker tones, influences by new wave and post-punk.
BONUS:
Cloud Nothings: Attack on Memory
This is a fairly recent discovery, but I instantly fell in love with this album when it came out in 2013. I’ve been following and supporting this band ever since.
Top 5 cities for great food stops on the road (By Dead Rituals.)
Alright, this might not be the average article you might be used to seeing in a music blog…but we love to eat in this band!
Dead Rituals has been around quite a lot, and we always try to stop and try some of the local eats. I love food as much as I love music, and the creative aspect of it is super-interesting. Here are some of our favorite cities where to play and eat!
New York City, NY:
So diverse and amazing. Anything you can think of, you can find it there, and there are so many authentic flavors from al over the world.
Naples, Italy:
Our town, baby! Great pizza and some amazing pasta dishes with a rich Mediterranean flair. One of my favorite local dishes is “ragout,” which is a slow-cooked meat-based tomato sauce, which you can eat with pasta, braised meats, pizza, and more.
Austin, TX:
I can only say two words here: BBQ. Texas. It’s really something to experience.
Stockholm, Sweden:
Stockholm is a fairly underrated hub for great food, but Scandinavia has got some incredible seafood (salmon and shrimps especially) and some really good meat dishes. It’s all about the quality of the ingredients and the flavor combinations are simple but great.
Berlin, Germany:
Love the international vibe of this amazing European capital. It’s music scene is just very vibrant, and so is its food culture, which is so diverse and fun. Lots of cheap eats and vegetarian / vegan friendly options too, great for bands on a budget.
This 2020 meant no shows due to COVID-19, but I can’t wait to get out there, play our songs and explore more of the world’s flavors, people, sights, and stories.
Extra: Spotify Playlist // Shoegaze, Dream-Pop, Post-Punk & Atmospheric Indie Music
Dead Rituals has always been a band with a love for immersive, atmospheric soundscapes. However, we also love edgy, raw punk music and in-your-face alternative rock! We started a playlist in an effort to gather bands and artists who combine energetic rock music with shoegaze, dream-pop and even ambient. You’ll find some staple artists (i.e. Slowdive) and some low-key gems that deserve more attention (i.e. Francis Moon). I would definitely recommend to put your shuffle on and dive in at random, so you never know what’s next.
We think that all of these songs are quite special, and hope you like them!
