KILL RITUAL – In My Head

U.S. heavy metal band Kill Ritual are back with their seventh studio album titled, In My Head (2025). It is the follow-up to Kill Star Black Mark Dead Hand Pierced Heart (2022). The album was arranged and produced by guitarist and founding member Steven D. Rice, and mixed and mastered by King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque. The lineup for this release is quite different from the previous record. Kill Ritual went from a monstrous four-piece band to a just as powerful three-piece band. The lineup that plays on In My Head includes Rice on guitars, bass guitar, synths, and backing vocals; Seamus Gleason on drums, and Judas on lead vocals. Did the latter choose their name as a reference to Judas Priest or they just thought the name was cool? Who knows!

Mentally Disturbing, Yet Satisfying

The album kicks off with the mentally disturbing title track. While looking at the striking album cover, the song paints an image of a tortured soul battling his inner demons. Elegant demons? Wait, that’s a different song. Going back to the title track, it’s frantic, yet melodic, and an absolute barnstormer. “Shadow on Your Grave” is heavy and menacing, and it’s got a memorable chorus. The whole album sounds like modern Judas Priest, courtesy of Judas’ Rob Halford vocals. Even the frantic double kick drumming is reminiscent of drummer Scott Travis’ playing style. The Judas Priest references keep coming with “The Head of Judas,” which is freaking heavy. A bit odd to write a song about bringing the head of the band’s current lead vocalist, but ok.

“More Than Pain” has a headbanging chorus, thanks to the tempo change, blistering guitar playing, and Judas is screaming up a storm. “My Love Is Hate” has a cool little riff, the guitar melodies are excellent, and the dark and disturbing lyrics work well for the song. “Fire Bird” is a thrash metal-like banger, but with a tasteful and somber bridge section, showing off Judas’ vulnerability. The album closes with “Our Elegant Demon,” which is power metal mixed with classic heavy metal. The tempo change in the middle of the song adds luscious texture to the track and overall, it’s not a bad way to wrap up In My Head.

The Good and the Bad

Sonically, the album sounds amazing and the modern production suits the band really well. The bass guitar is soft in the mix, but that could be because the main focus was on the guitars, vocals, and drums. Not surprisingly, the bass is usually up in the mix when the song has lots of groove. None of the songs on In My Head are exactly groovy, but Kill Ritual aren’t a groove metal band, so that’s fine. While Judas is a fantastic vocalist and it was impossible to deny the similarities between them and Rob Halford, some vocal melodies sounded wrong, as if they shouldn’t have existed in the first place. The biggest example is for the chorus on “Fall to Fly (Join or Die);” their vocal deliveries on those lines sound tone deaf and out of tune. Whether the parts were poorly executed or they simply wanted to try something different, the vocal melodies for the chorus do not work at all.

Final Assessment

Is Kill Ritual’s In My Head going to change the game for heavy metal? No, but the songs are loud, powerful, and headbanging. If interested, give the album a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. In My Head
2. Shadow on Your Grave
3. 1,000 Years
4. Fall to Fly (Join or Die)
5. I Paint In Death
6. The Head of Judas
7. More Than Pain
8. My Love Is Hate
9. Fire Bird
10. Our Elegant Demon

Band Lineup

Steven D. Rice – guitars, bass guitar, synths, and backing vocals
Seamus Gleason – drums
Judas – lead vocals

Check out the lyric video for the title track from Kill Ritual’s In My Head!