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.