The Ritualists Return with a Dark Fantasy Anthem That Soars

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

Christian Dryden and The Ritualists are back with a bold new statement in their latest single “The Wake,” a soaring, synth-heavy track that channels the mystique of 1980s dark fantasy cinema with a glam rock edge. Inspired by films like The Never Ending Story, Labyrinth, and The Secret of NIMH, the track feels like a cinematic journey—moody, melodic, and undeniably magnetic.

“The Wake” is the first taste of their upcoming album Too Pure to Cure, dropping April 22 via Suite484Music. The record is produced by GRAMMY-winner Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails), and it’s packed with the band’s signature fusion of goth, glam, and modern rock. “This one almost didn’t make it on the record,” Dryden admits. “But I insisted. I came out of the shower singing the chorus, and I just knew it was something special.”

What sets “The Wake” apart is not just its sound—pulsing synths, galloping beats, and shimmering melodies—but also its visual storytelling. The music video, directed by Hypno Doll, takes viewers through an eccentric dreamworld using Brooklyn as its stage. “We shot some of it in a backyard that was transformed by artists into this whimsical, magical space,” Dryden says. “It’s gritty and fantastical at the same time. Everyone embodies their spirit animals, and I play the outsider who eventually joins in. It’s about awakening.”

The album’s title, Too Pure to Cure, reflects the band’s ongoing fascination with transformation and duality. It follows their critically adored records Painted People and Baroque & Bleeding, the latter of which saw praise from legends like Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. The Ritualists continue to lean into their roots—drawing on glam, art rock, and romantic psychedelia—while pushing boundaries with every release.

The band itself is a tightly knit creative unit. Dryden handles vocals and bass, joined by keyboardist Jeffrey Andrew, guitarist David Andreana, and drummer Eric Hubie. “Jeff is like Nick Rhodes meets Keith Emerson,” Dryden explains. “He brings that synth wizardry but with a classical foundation. David has this Jeff Beck thing going on—minimal effects, maximal soul. And Eric, our newest member, plays to a click live, which allows us to incorporate complex synth layers without losing the raw energy of a live performance.”

Their second single from the upcoming album, “You Know Better,” is a slick, bass-driven anthem with a dark disco flair. “That track was about pushing the envelope,” says Dryden. “It’s about the arrogance of thinking you’ve got it all figured out, especially in the information age. Everyone’s an expert now. But really, the people who’ve put in the time and studied the craft—those are the voices we should be listening to.”

While their music echoes with the glam ghosts of Bowie and the theatricality of classic rock, The Ritualists are firmly a band of today. Dryden, who formed the group in the Lower East Side of New York, is acutely aware of how the industry has shifted. “Even in the short time since our debut, the landscape’s changed,” he says. “It used to be about magazines and radio. Now, it’s all podcasts, playlists, and TikTok.”

Still, Dryden isn’t chasing trends. “We’re not anti-commercial. We just don’t write with that intention. We’re trying to make art that moves people.”

The band will support the release of Too Pure to Cure with a run of live shows, including a not-to-be-missed performance on June 7 in Brooklyn as part of their Glamour Puss series—a multimedia art and music event curated by Dryden himself.

If you’re looking for rock that’s theatrical, poetic, and pulsing with life, The Ritualists are more than ready to show you the way. “Music should make you feel like you’re part of something bigger,” Dryden says. “It should awaken something in you.”

With “The Wake,” they just might.

Listen to the full interview with Christian Dryden from The Ritualists on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience.