Ritual Arcana Self-Titled Review
Ritual Arcana
Self-Titled
Heavy Psych Sounds
2026
The first Doom/Stoner album of 2026 to truly knock me on my ass has arrived, and damned if that doesn’t feel good. This is a genre that rarely gets me fired up anymore, it takes more than fuzz and volume. There must be staying power, something that lingers long after the smoke clears, whether it’s in the lyrics, the intent, or the overall spiritual weight of the record. Ritual Arcana, the new project from husband-and-wife duo Scott “Wino” Weinrich and SharLee LuckyFree, have delivered exactly that with their self-titled debut via Heavy Psych Sounds. Rounding out the trio is drummer Oakley Munson, whose presence completes the triangle nicely.
I’ll be upfront: I wasn’t deeply familiar with LuckyFree’s prior work, nor Munson’s. Wino, of course, needs no introduction, you can trip over a band he’s played in while grabbing produce on aisle four. Jokes aside, his presence here is pronounced, arguably more focused than on many of his other projects. That focus feels intentional. When you’re creating something with your partner, you share blood, breath, and belief with, there’s a deeper investment. This isn’t just another band; it feels like a shared ritual, a private fire made public. And that intimacy matters. You can hear it in every note.
Musically, fans of The Obsessed will immediately feel at home. This isn’t a copy, but the DNA is unmistakable: direct, no-bullshit Stoner Rock delivered with conviction. The difference lies in the atmosphere. Ritual Arcana is more melodic, more accessible on the surface, but don’t confuse that with softness. There’s a slow-burning darkness underneath it all, one that pulses rather than explodes. This is music that coils instead of charges.
That darkness is carried, no, its summoned by LuckyFree. Her vocals ooze confidence and command, steeped in shadow and sensuality. There are echoes of Coven here, and flashes of Lucifer, but LuckyFree’s voice is deeper, stronger, and far more convincing. Where some bands flirt with occult imagery as aesthetic, Ritual Arcana feels initiated. This doesn’t sound like cosplay, it sounds lived-in, practiced and possibly dangerous. The lyrics feel like invocations, whispered over candlelight and sweat, tapping into tarot, lustcraft, and the kind of witchery that blurs pleasure and power. There’s an undeniable eroticism at play, not cheap or voyeuristic, but ritualistic, sacred, and a little unclean. Lustmord in spirit: seductive, murderous and exotic.
Wino’s riffs and leads are classic yet restrained, acting as a solid altar upon which LuckyFree delivers her sermons. His playing doesn’t overpower, it supports, giving her space to command the room, to preach and entice in equal measure. The chemistry is undeniable, and it’s that chemistry that elevates Ritual Arcana beyond just another Doom release.
Casual fans of Stoner and Doom Metal will find plenty to love here. None of the tracks overstay their welcome, most hit hard and vanish within four minutes. There’s no aimless droning, no indulgent noodling. Every song feels purposeful, like a spell cast quickly but effectively. This album knows exactly what it wants to do and wastes no time doing it.
If you’re searching for something darkly seductive, something that feeds the shadowy corners of the mind while still delivering riffs with teeth, Ritual Arcana’s self-titled debut is more than worth your time. This is Doom with intent, Stoner Rock with desire, and it leaves a mark long after the ritual ends.
Standouts – “Ritual Arcana”, “Berkana”, “Summon The Wheel” and “Mistress Of Change”.