Rikets – All American Death Cult
Ohio’s freaks-of-nature better known as Rikets have unleashed a plague with their new album All American Death Cult. These Buckeyes are set to turn loose eleven of the most insanely demonstrative hatefiles ever recorded across this great land of ours.
All American Death Cult opens with the unbelievably warped, yet fitting “It’s Only Gonna Get Worse.” With clips of “Charlie” Manson and the like, this minute long intro gives the listener a little taste of the massively destructive headtrip they are about to embark on. The album’s first video and single is for the super chug-fest known as “Program The Dead.” If you are a fan of bottom-heavy grooves, fat guitar chunk, and mind-numbing electronics all lined with sick and twisted vocals, then this is the band for you. Combine the muscle of bands like Skinlab, Bloodsimple and American Head Charge with the demented elements of Nine Inch Nails and wha-la…Rikets is born. Vocalist Scott Rose comes off as one big massive ball of energetic hate, sadness and aggression. He infuses the talent of guys like Steev Esquivel (Skinlab), Tim Williams (Vision Of Disorder/Bloodsimple) and Dez Fafara (Devildriver) with his own distinct style for one lethal combination.
Two hellacious spoonfuls of “Get outta my face or I’m gonna bust yo ass” come in the form of “Vicious” and “The Murder”. “Vicious” screams Vision Of Disorder (From Bliss To Devastation-era) and Bloodsimple in just about every aspect with Rose blasting anger and spitting venom over the chunky hardcore six string madness. If you feel like having your head caved in, you need to give “The Murder” a listen. Nine Inch Nails style electro-beats lead into a massive Korn style beatdown that has more bounce than a Hooters waitress running the 40 yard dash. Throughout the verses, electronics run the gamut while Rose and company fill the background with over the top aggression. Both choruses are filled with heavily distorted vocals that, while they are earsplitting, are surprisingly catchy which is very cool.
By far the most appealing and singable tracks on the album are “End Of My Suffering” and “Sold Me Out.” From the opening key strokes of “End Of My Suffering”, you are captivated by just how beautiful, yet completely deadly this band can be. Axe-men Nick Quijano (ex-American Head Charge) and Provo lay down lethal doses of rhythmic groove while drummer Timmy Braun and bassist Michael Reams use and abuse the air behind them. The song also adds some killer areas where off key piano is textured in, adding just another layer to the album. “Sold Me Out” is a track that might even make the ever-so-famous Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) shed a black tear of jealousy. The fragmented guitar licks are layered behind danceable beats and Rose’s cries of distorted and tortured love. This song reminds me of that one standout track on any multimillion dollar summer blockbuster’s soundtrack…you know, the song that radio stations all across the country can’t stop playing.
As advertised, there is a cover of Gerard McMann’s “Cry Little Sister” from the 1987 cult classic, The Lost Boys. Frankly, I didn’t like the original and I didn’t like the cover either. The band does a perfect rendition, but sadly, it does nothing for me. I found myself skipping to the next track before it really even got started.
Some people may hear the name, see the album cover, and write Rikets off as just another “nu-metal” band that is here today and gone tomorrow. Honestly, that should and will be farther from the truth. These five guys have woven a creative and violent look at what it might feel like on the inside of a killer’s mind. Wikipedia defines a “cult” as “a group whose beliefs or practices could be, reasonably or unreasonably, considered strange.” I say grab a liter of Kool-aid and put on your “I survived Waco while riding Comet Hale-Bopp” t-shirt cause this is one cult you’ll want to be a part of!
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10 Comments
April 20th, 2010 at 12:18 am
they're based out of oklahoma, some reporter!
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April 20th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Hey Balls! Wait, that just doesn’t sound right…, anyway. When I received the album (upon doing research) I had multiple reports saying they were from Cleveland, Ohio. This is taken directly from…
Blabbermouth –
"RIKETS Signs With BURNHILL UNION RECORDS –
Chicago-based Burnhill Union Records has announced the signing of RIKETS. The Cleveland, Ohio-based band's debut album, "All American Death Cult", will be released in April."
The Gauntlet -
"It is from the ashes of several of these underground heavyweights comes Cleveland's newest, and possibly biggest threat, Rikets. "The band started with a phone call", recalls Rose."
Their old label Corporate Records even posted a news article/review with this same information.
http://www.corporatepunishment.com/reviews/83
Those are just a few of the MANY things saying they are from Ohio. The review was sent to the band and their PR and nothing was said. I know what you’re talking about though, and I’m a stickler for these kinds of things…they HAVE to be right. Lately, I have read a couple things saying they were from Oklahoma…but I couldn't confirm it, so I went with what I other reports have said.
[Reply to this comment]
Demonic Posession replied:
March 20th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Dude i had heard scott left the band. they have been the music that helped me thru my life since they first began. I need to kno where i can contact them fo position as lead singer. I CAN DO IT, if need be, I'll send a song or better yet, a video of me singin it so they can see how good i really am. im not douchebag wanna-be man, i'm an ORIGINAL…
[Reply to this comment]
April 20th, 2010 at 9:33 am
These two articles both say "Cleveland, Ohio" and appear as though they came from an official press release:
http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=23814
http://puregrainaudio.com/news/burnhill-union-records-signs-underground-heavyweights-rikets
Also here:
http://www.purevolume.com/rikets
And their Stereo Killer page quotes the "Ohio" line in the review:
http://www.stereokiller.com/RIKETS
I'd say we've done our due diligence here.
[Reply to this comment]
April 20th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Ok, got the real deal answer from Rikets PR today. Members of the band reside in both Ohio AND Oklahoma. They did not want to "choose" a city in press releases to anger fans. Totally understandable in my opinion. So either way, Ohio or Oklahoma….were both correct.
[Reply to this comment]
April 24th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
were from everywhere! ohio, oklahoma, texas whatever you want to say is fine with us. we like to tell people were from their town when we're on tour cause thats where our van(2nd home) is!
so party on and thanks for the great review!
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May 10th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I was finally able to get my hands on this cd and let me tell you this shit rips!! I had worn out their EP waiting on a full length and its finally here. Thank god. It was well worth the wait though. As far as where they are from, I think the connection with Ben Schigel (producer, Switched) is where the Ohio connection comes from. I a live in Ohio and I thought the majority of the original line-up was from Ohio but they have switched up that line-up and some of the new or current members hail from Oklahoma or Texas. Im not 100% sure but I do know that they were at one point based out of Ohio and are good friends with Ben Schigel who has a studio in Ohio. Its near Cleveland. I want to say Parma. I thought I would just share that. I love these guys. I agree with Lees review. This is a must own cd!!
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August 21st, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I checked out Rikets in Springfield, Mo years ago, and with that one show (anything for the devil/jager tour) I was an instant fan. The guys were VERY cool to hang with also! I still have the shot glasses and picks that Provo and the gang gave me! Amazing show!
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September 13th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Rikets is no longer
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Jen replied:
October 23rd, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Yep, it's a shame too!
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