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WARNING Released A Cult Doom Metal Classic 20 Years Ago; They Now Return With The Stirring ‘Rituals Of Shame’
UK doom metal band WARNING have released a new EP, "Rituals Of Shame", 20 years after their 2006 album "Watching From A Distance" became a cult classic in the genre. The original record, released quietly on the small label The Miskatonic Foundation with no promotion, built its reputation purely through word of mouth and is still sometimes labelled "the most depressing metal album of all time" — a description frontman Patrick Walker rejects. The follow-up marks a notable step up in visibility for the band, who are now signed to Relapse Records, the label that also reissued the original album last year.
The five-track "Rituals Of Shame" follows a similar emotional template to its predecessor, built on repetition and Walker's distinctive vocals, but with improved production and more developed guitar melodies; the closing track, "Teacher", is singled out as a highlight. In an interview with Blabbermouth, Walker reflects on the difficulty of following a record so many fans discovered through personal, organic self-discovery, and discusses adjusting to increased attention, larger budgets and regular press interviews after two decades of relative obscurity.
In short
- WARNING release new EP "Rituals Of Shame" 20 years after cult album
- Original 2006 record gained fame purely through word of mouth
- Frontman Patrick Walker discusses following up a beloved cult classic
Explained simply
WARNING are a UK doom metal band who recorded a landmark album early in their career. In 2006, they released "Watching From A Distance" on a small independent label with virtually no publicity, yet the album became a cult classic within the metal community, spreading through personal recommendation rather than marketing campaigns. Though sometimes described as exceptionally bleak, the band's frontman Patrick Walker disputes this characterisation.
The band remained largely obscure over the following two decades despite their influential status among certain listeners. Most fans who discovered "Watching From A Distance" did so by chance, making it a deeply personal find rather than something promoted by a record label, which contributed to its organic reputation. This underground status has now begun to shift, with the significant metal label Relapse Records taking interest and reissuing the original album last year.
The band's recent return to recording marks a notable transition from obscurity to increased visibility within the metal world. Walker has reflected on the complexity of following an album many fans discovered independently, and the challenges of adjusting to larger budgets, professional press engagement and greater attention after two decades away from the spotlight. For a previously underground act, this represents a significant moment as their work gains wider recognition.