Influences, style and themes In February 2016, after a year and a half of touring for their previous album
Black Widow, the band posted on social media a short video that hinted the recording of a new album. In a video interview, lead vocalist Maria Brink stated that she had already come up with a theme for the next record. The theme of the album is mostly inspired by Brink's visit to
Salem, Massachusetts, with the women in her family in the fall of 2016. She said, "I was trying to find a lot of truth in myself. I loved Salem. I was blown away by how visually beautiful it is. The history of the witch burnings is fascinating. It was a special ceremonial journey." The album title refers to looking at different religions and spiritualities of the world. Lead guitarist Chris Howorth explained that Brink is "a very spiritual person, she's not necessarily religious like going to church religious but she's also not into all this witchcraft stuff, she kinda likes it all and believes openly. That's why its touching all these different topics of religion and stuff." In an interview on April 10, 2017, Howorth said the sound of the
Ritual has more serious themes, "Stylistically, I think we went a little bit more raw, you know—like, not so much campiness like '
Sex Metal Barbie.'" Brink says the record is less sexualized than the band's previous efforts, saying, "I wanted to show people and definitely women a different side of strength in me that was a really powerful force in me that didn't need the sexual part, so there's definitely a more serious overtone...a more serious deeper side of us." Sonically, the electronic elements found in the previous two albums, typical of
industrial metal are less prominent with a greater presence of guitars. Though the album has dark aspects, there is also a positive message inspired by Brink's spiritual learning and experiences. Brink's love for
Phil Collins' "
In the Air Tonight" decided the band's cover on the album, which the band has attempted in the past. The writing and recording process for the album took four to five months. This time around, songs were written with the live show in mind, whereas in the past it was created after the album was completed. The band's main songwriters—Brink, Howorth, and
Kevin Churko collaborated with other writers from outside their usual lyric-pool to expand the influences, such as
Scott Stevens and
Dave Bassett, as was recommended by the label. Genre-wise, the album is observed by reviewers to be
alternative metal,
hard rock,
pop rock, The album utilizes elements of
pop,
blues,
alternative, and
classic rock. ==Release and promotion==