While recording this track in early 2000 the CD "BlackArts" was not yet set for printing (since it was released in October 2000, and this was in the spring). And as I wrote the basic lines for the lyrics I suddenly became aware of the simularities between this track and the words written for a song called "Varsel" from the unreleased debut ("ElviraMadigan"). Since nothing was yet up for sale, I still felt I could tamper with older songs as I saw fit. This was when I decided to have the older track "Varsel" as a second part of a story, and the new song I was currently recording into the first part. The older song told of a tale when a man who had previously sold his soul to the devil had come to the final day of when the Dark One would come for what was his. The new song (this track) told the tale of when a man went through the ritual to meet with the devil and finally make the bargain. So of course, it was a natural step to have the two songs connected (even though actually completely accidentally!). The song "Ritual" was recorded quite close to the other main ballad (called "Kvinnorovet") on the CD and this very fact proved quite harmful for my mental health. Rest assured, two ballads will not be recorded so close to each other in the first stages of an album in the future. This move made it very hard for me to understand what the CD "Witches" would be about and caused both ballads to be altered at a larger extent in the final stages of the CD:s recordingsessions. This track had the last three or four minutes cut off and replaced with a (great!) guitarsolo upon symphonic keyboards to make it more interesting. A few other larger alterations were also made in the latter half and provided the song with much more emotion and drama. Musically this song spans rather wide from a symphonic introduction to a mellow continuation (also rather symphonic with tons of strings). Suddenly a more heavy interlude enters in the form of a purely folkish riff leading to a faster section which is abruptively ended for a heavy section before the nice ending. This is a huge treat on the CD and feature some of my best guitarwork so far. The fact that it so vividly describes how one is to proceed in order to meet with the devil is not something I have made up myself (but is known nordic folklore) and gives the song a little more credability (the number of laps though - 12 - is incorrect). I remember a devastating incident that lead to this song being entirely rerecorded. I had put every basic drumline and almost all the keyboards and acoustics when lo! - the recording tape snapped clean off! Well, there was no other option than to bite the bullit and start all over again...

Total running time: 8:17 Ritual (Varsel del 1) Tolv varv baklänges kring Jesus hem Och var gång porten jag ser Ett djupt andetag och jag blåser in genom nyckelhålet För att snart få möta min frälsare och Gud Och när jag sista varvet gått En ensam man står och väntar på mig En skepnad i svart med kontraktet i sin hand ... Ett harmlöst jack i fingret Och på kontraktet skriver jag ... Tro gifver Jesus Krist blott falsk och blott ett hån Ty ängeln fallen skänker dock lättja till var man Så säg då vad bjuder vår Gud, utom svek? Så besten framför mig kliver tillbaks I mörkret och lämnar blott ingenting kvar Utom känslan av tomhet innuti mitt bröst Han tog väl ej själen min nu när jag äntligen Vaknat upp och sett mig om Och skådar så världen genom nyfödda ögon Jag ser så mycket mer ...

"Ritual (Premonition part 1)" Twelve laps backwards around Jesus home And every time I pass the churchdoor One breath - and I blow through the keyhole To soon meet with my saviour and God And when the last lap I have walked A lone man stands there waiting for me A single shape in black with the contract in his hand ... One harmless cut in my finger And the contract I sign ... Faith gives Jesus Christ all but false and like a mockering For the angel fallen gives at least pleasures of the flesh So tell me what does our Lord give, but betrayal? So the beast before me steps back Into the darkness and leaves all but nothing behind Except the feeling of loss withing my chest Did he already take my soul now that I've finally Woken up and looked around And behold the world through newborn eyes I see so much more ...