Horrendous was conceived in the womb of early 2009. With a fascination and … Read Full Bio ↴Horrendous was conceived in the womb of early 2009. With a fascination and utter obsession with the old school, the band emerged from a desolate scene, weaving webs of raunchy riffs through the rehearsal space air...

Band Members:
~ Damian Herring: Guitar, Vocals
~ Matt Knox: Guitar, Vocals
~ Jamie Knox: Battery
~ Alex Kulick: Bassist

Discography:
~ Sweet Blasphemies (Demo) - 2009
~ The Chills - 2012
~ Ecdysis - 2014
~ Anareta - 2015
~ Idol - 2018
~ Ontological Mysterium - 2023
https://www.facebook.com/HorrendousDeathMetal

The Ritual
Horrendous Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Incantations rise from shrouded
faces in the night
As plumes of smoke dance
in candelabra's light
It is time

Beneath the mournful shadows of the trees
a haze of incense swirls

and casts its stench upon the breeze
Rising to the sky with chants
of praise and ecstasy
The Ritual has begun

Bring forth the cursed knife
and raise the ancient key on high
Touch not its gilded surface
for it contains the blood of christ

Now spill the blood upon the earth
within the master's evil sign
and plunge the knife into the star of
diabolical design

Gaze in wonder as it drinks
our sanguinary offering
Hear the infernal wail as
the master begins to rise
swelling up from festering slime,
sinews crack and snap together,
tendons entwine
a putrid rebirth of unholiest kind

Feel the blistering heat emitting
from the wretched flames
frothing forth the night
as the master usurps the ancient key
with a chilling shriek of pure delight

Bow your heads and praise his name
The master has returned again

Sanguinary ritual.
Sanguinary rites.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Ritual" by Horrendous describes a dark and eerie scene of a pagan ritual taking place in the dead of night. The opening lines describe the incantations rising from shrouded faces hidden in the darkness while plumes of smoke dance in candelabra's light, signaling the start of the ritual. The setting is beneath the mournful shadows of the trees with a haze of incense swirling and casting its stench upon the breeze. The acolytes chant praises and sing hymns of ecstasy as they prepare to bring forth the cursed knife and raise the ancient key on high. They are warned not to touch its gilded surface, which carries the blood of Christ. They spill the blood upon the earth and plunge the knife into the star of diabolical design, causing the transformation of the master from festering slime to an unholy rebirth. The blistering heat emitting from the wretched flames signals that the master has risen again and the ritual ends with the acolytes bowing their heads and praising his name.

The lyrics of "The Ritual" evoke a sense of dread and foreboding with mentioning of "cursed knives," "blood of Christ," and "diabolical design." The imagery of plumes of smoke dancing in the candlelight, acolytes in shrouds chanting incantations, and a haze of incense swirling creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The use of descriptive language like "putrid rebirth," "blistering heat," and "wretched flames" adds to the overall macabre tone of the song. The theme of a pagan ritual references a time before Christianity, demonstrating a contrast between the old and the new religion and how the memory of the past still haunts the present.

Line by Line Meaning

Incantations rise from shrouded faces in the night
Mystical words are chanted secretly underneath the cover of darkness

As plumes of smoke dance in candelabra's light
Smoke rises from a burning candlestick and swirls around in the air

It is time
The moment has arrived to perform the ritual

Beneath the mournful shadows of the trees a haze of incense swirls and casts its stench upon the breeze
Underneath the gloomy trees, incense smoke fills the air with a putrid odor

Rising to the sky with chants of praise and ecstasy The Ritual has begun
The ceremony starts with chants of excitement and admiration

Bring forth the cursed knife and raise the ancient key on high Touch not its gilded surface for it contains the blood of christ
Retrieve the cursed blade and lift up the antique key, but beware not to touch its golden facade as it holds holy blood inside

Now spill the blood upon the earth within the master's evil sign and plunge the knife into the star of diabolical design
Sacrifice blood onto the ground within the symbol ordained by the master, then thrust the knife into the star-shaped design with evil intentions

Gaze in wonder as it drinks our sanguinary offering Hear the infernal wail as the master begins to rise
Witness with amazement as the offering is consumed by the master, and hear his demonic cry as he comes to life

swelling up from festering slime, sinews crack and snap together, tendons entwine a putrid rebirth of unholiest kind
Emerging from a horrible sludge, the master's muscles convulse and conjoin, resulting in a disgustingly unholy resurrection

Feel the blistering heat emitting from the wretched flames frothing forth the night as the master usurps the ancient key with a chilling shriek of pure delight
Experience the scorching temperature emerging from the cursed flames, fiercely illuminating the darkness, as the master takes control of the ancient key with a chillingly ecstatic yell

Bow your heads and praise his name The master has returned again
Lower your heads and worship the master as he has come back once more

Sanguinary ritual. Sanguinary rites.
A ritual of bloodshed and violent sacrifice

Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS