deathrashed: Ritual Fog - But Merely Flesh (2024)

Information

Artist – Ritual Fog

Album – But Merely Flesh

Label – Transcending Obscurity Records

Released – November 29th, 2024

Type – Full-length

Additional

Notes

But Merely Flesh is the debut full-length from Ritual Fog, released November 29th, 2024 via Transcending Obscurity Records. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, the quartet—Ian Younkin (guitars, vocals, synthesizers), Spencer Martin (guitars), Jon Clark (bass), and Andrew Hobday (drums)—delivers 29 minutes of cavernous death metal across nine tracks, following their 2022 Visions of Blasphemy EP.

Recorded with Alan Burcham, mixed by Dan Lowndes, and mastered by Greg Chandler, the album features artwork by Juanjo Castellano. It channels putrid riffs, groovy momentum, and atmospheric synth touches, with guest lead guitar by Todd Cochran on "Fog Sermon." Standouts include the instrumental opener "Misticism," the churning "Desolate Chasm," and the title track closer. The release has seen physical editions on CD and vinyl through the label.

Videos

Tracklist

1. Misticism – 00:36

2. Desolate Chasm – 03:04 >

Descend into hollow ground, Home in the dirt.
A storm of funeral wind. Desolated realm.
Clandestine solitude. Amid silence
Lurid incantation bound.
Chaos reigns. Cleansing depths. Chaos reigns. Cleansing Depths
Empty chasm. Empty chasm

3. Slimeblade – 03:31 >

In the cave of sentient gloom. Wielding deathly slime.
Armed possession, the blade’s will achieved.
Sword in hand. Conquer and purge. Claiming rancid devastation.
Swinging putrid steel. Deliver ectoplasmic suffering.
Manifestation of mold. Worship through decay.
Entranced to deteriorate.
Perish in the rot.
Apostle of slime.
Triumph in the foul.
Perish in rot.

4. Nocturnal Suffering – 04:13 >

Behold, the dawn…
Of bestial idols twisted into form
Archangels lie gutted
Gates close on fear struck believers
Set ablaze to ethereal skies
Let ashes rain upon the earth
Judgement passed!
Rapture denied!
No refuge to crawl back to
Onward to pandemonium
Ancient ones led to dominate
Hurling scorn towards the vault of heaven
Almighty eyes behold
Newfound omnipotence has been bestowed
No refuge to crawl back to
I await in devouring darkness
Embrace this…
Nocturnal suffering
Diabolical scourge

5. Demented Procession – 04:20 >

Godsend tyrants – salivating salvation
Usher in demented processions
Purge those disdained into ash
A feeble offering – sacrificial death.
Miasmatic perdition, funereal exhibition.
Holy gatherings sing their chants of dismay.
Under grace, be cleansed by flames.
Immolated in sullen ecstasy
Sunken into depths of obstinacy
Demented procession. Demented procession.
Immolated in sullen ecstasy
Sunken into depths of obstinacy
Demented procession. Demented procession

6. Fog Sermon – 03:10 >

RITUAL FOG!

7. Carnal Pain – 02:44 >

Gutted, pierced. Lust and fear.
Called to exist in unholiness.
Taken, awakened.
Manipulated by twisted beings.
From the realm of eternal suffering.
No escaping, mutilation.
Bloodthirsty spawn.
Forms of Satan, eternal suffering. Carnal pain, eternal suffering.
I’m in hell, drag me down to hell. Drag me down.

8. Sentient Chamber – 03:17 >

Dwell in the gallows.
Eternal cavern, feral drip.
Cathedral of muck.
Alive in despair.
With endless thirst.
Drink from the chalice.
Embrace the mire.
Slimecult reign supreme.
Viscous sludge forever.
Slimecult reign supreme.
The slime seeps from my eyes, the slime oozes on and on

Ough!

9. But Merely Flesh – 04:38 >

Consuming idols, weakening the callous
Malicious eyes, peeling the skin
Bleeding out, lesions unto ruin
But merely flesh
Behold majestic pain, this body as a sacrifice
Carving away, all mortality
Grasp the skull, clench in awe, call forth the mist
Ough!
Graveless remains, scattered and maimed
Fumes of enchantment, call forth the mist

Grasp the skull, clench in awe, 
Grasp the skull, clench in awe, 
We are, but merely flesh

Total length: 29:33