Review by Marcelo Vieira on July 25, 2024.

Although his name has become synonymous with Satan, Brian Ross was not part of the band's formation in 1979, nor did he participate in their 1985 revival after the brief Blind Fury phase. Interestingly, it was precisely during Ross's absence that the band recorded some of their most "true" works.

In the four years leading up to their cult debut album "Court in the Act" (1983), five other vocalists were part of Satan. The bulk of "Early Rituals," released in Brazil by Hellion Records, consists of recordings with two of them: Trevor Robinson and Ian "Swifty" Swift, the same from Avenger and Atomkraft.

The material from the demos "The First Demo" (1981) and "Into the Fire" (1982) isn't entirely new. Ten years ago, these same tracks were released in the compilation "The Early Demos" by Death Rider Records. What"s different now is the final third: instead of live bonus tracks, the four tracks from the "Dirt Demo '86" (1986) with vocalist Michael Jackson, which were reworked into the EP "Into the Future" later that year.

"The rich must die," sings Trevor, in full Robin Hood mode, in "Heads Will Roll," a typical NWOBHM attack on monarchs and aristocrats. The vocals resemble Stephen Pearcy of Ratt, though such an exchange was impossible and unthinkable in 1981. A bit further along, "The Executioner" revisits the decapitation theme with a description of an executioner "masked in black," "armed with an axe," and who, most importantly, "never thinks twice"; guilty or innocent, "the axe falls... chop!"

A more elaborate arrangement, featuring rapid guitar phrases, signals the band's evolution in the 1982 demo. The recording quality improves significantly, and Swifty proves to be a more versatile vocalist, especially in the anti-war (and anti-warlord) manifesto "Into the Fire / Trial By Fire"; you can almost feel the skin burning as he belts out the chorus, "From out of the sky / Feel the radiation burn," and his rage as he points a finger at ten-star generals hiding behind their desks with "The men of power have nothing to fear / When their fingers hit the switch they're far away from here."

It's also evident in the 1982 demo — tracks 5 to 10 on the CD — that the lyrics have taken on a more narrative character — "Break Free" and "Pull the Trigger" seem like two chapters of the same escape and reunion story — and the instrumental passages have extended, as in "No Turning Back," which sounds like it was born from a jam session.

The final four tracks kick off at full throttle. "Key to Oblivion" — with verses critiquing "super nations" that "play for domination" — is perhaps the best of the entire repertoire. However, the competition from "Hear Evil, See Evil, Speak Evil" (what a chorus!) and "The Ice Man" (before you know it, you’ll be mentally singing the "Like lightning!" from the lyrics) is fierce. When in doubt, it’s best not to try to pick a favorite.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10