After nearly a 4 year break, Covenant are back in 2006 with a new full length, Skyshaper.  Prior to the release of the CD, the single for Ritual Noise has been released.  Containing 4 versions of the title track and two, non-album, bonus tracks, this MCD gives a peek into what the new full length will have in store.  Back are the relentless dance rhythms, smooth vocals, high-energy synths, and thick beats.  The first three mixes of Ritual Noise are very similar in nature where the only difference seems to be in the arrangement.  The 4^th version, remixed by B, is more trance orientated and actually less dance floor friendly.  The beat is repetitive and the live seems to have been sucked out of the vocals, which are a driving force behind the original version.  The sample applies for The Island, a strictly vocal driven piece with minimalistic, background synth effects and a distant beat.  The other non-album piece, XRDS, is a more upbeat piece, yet again it relies heavy on the vocals to carry it through to the end.  Judging from this release it seems that Covenant is going to be putting more emphasis on the vocals on the forth coming album which is a good thing since Eskil has such an addictive voice.

1) Ritual Noise (edit)    2) Ritual Noise (Main ver)
3) The Island             4) Ritual Noise (ver S)
5) XRDS                   6) Ritual Noise (Terence Fixmer rmx)