The Ritual Fires of Abandonment

The Ritual Fires of Abandonment
Studio album by Minsk
Released	February 20, 2007
Recorded	2006
Genre	Doom metal, post-metal
Length	59:03
Label	Relapse
Producer	Sanford Parker
Minsk chronology
Out of a Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive (2005) The Ritual Fires of Abandonment (2007) With Echoes in the Movement of Stone (2009)

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Allmusic

The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is the second full-length album by Chicago-based post-metal band Minsk. It was released in February 2007 as the band's debut on Relapse Records. Bruce Lamont, of Chicago-based band Yakuza, performed all the saxophone parts as guest musician. The lyrics are inspired by the works of Lebanese-American philosopher Kahlil Gibran; in fact he is credited as an author of the lyrics in the CD booklet. Musically this album doesn't detach itself too much from its predecessor, being dark, heavy and intricate, but the psychedelic side of the music is more elaborated and complex here, giving it a more "spiritual" vibe. Upon the album's release, bassist and producer Sanford Parker had this to say: "OK, finally the Minsk album titled The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is done, due out on Relapse Records Feb. 20th 2007, and its 59 minutes and 06 seconds long. Can you say psychedelic?......we can."[1]

Track listing

1. "Embers" – 13:49
2. "White Wings" – 5:34
3. "Mescaline Sunrise" – 4:43
4. "The Orphans of Piety" – 14:41
5. "Circle of Ashes" – 4:37
6. "Ceremony Ek Stasis" – 15:39

Personnel

• Christopher Bennett – guitar, vocals
• Timothy Mead – synthesizer
• Sanford Parker – bass guitar, vocals, keyboards, production
• Tony Wyioming – drums
• Bruce Lamont – saxophone