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“And I'm hearing you say, not enough is OK. Well, its not...I'm with the Painted People,” quips lead vocalist, Christian Dryden of NYC-based, The Ritualists. Dryden, who fronts the band and writes the songs is something of an anachronism; A multi-instrumentalist who relishes the performance aspects of a live show, while also challenging his audience with lyrics that reference 19th Century Romance poetry & musical arrangements flush with ornate, art-rock sensibilities. “Ice Flower,” the first single off the debut record, encapsulate this tension. The track finds its foundation in a repetitive bass groove before bursting into a sea of expansive guitar lines. The chorus then rips through these spacey textures and frantic tones, as Dryden stretches his voice, octave-jumping and navigating the listener through this controlled chaos with an impassioned, melodic hook. Now, after a few years of paying their dues, finding their unique voices, and gaining traction in the NYC underground community, The Ritualists are announcing their debut full-length album, PAINTED PEOPLE (out August 2nd on Out of Line Music), showcasing their unflinching combination of post punk ethos, arena rock ready choruses and psychedelic freak-outs.