Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere

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Denver-based death metal four-piece Blood Incantation returns from the deep dark void of space with its third full-length album “Absolute Elsewhere” out via Century Media Records on October 4th, 2024. The quartet is fronted by Paul Riedl (guitars and vocals), Morris Kolontyrsky (guitars), Jeff Barrett (bass guitar), and Isaac Faulk (drums) have captured the quintessence of their previous releases. “Absolute Elsewhere” takes a more porgy direction; compositionally and thematically, the album channels both the endeavor and the focus on diverse sounds that push further beyond the thresholds of their 2019 sophomore “Hidden History of the Human Race”.

The new chapter expands the band’s sonic virtuoso and creatively showcases instrumental segments by merging the ominous soundscapes through synthesized keyboards. Blood Incantation honed its technique with songs that are structured to sound progressive death metal is beyond the linear tradition of the band, this somehow has resulted in exerting the ability to create a spacey atmosphere. The synthesizer has become one of the focal elements in the songs and more important however is the cold celestial surrounding of the hefty guitar arrangement used across forty-four minutes duration.

The opening track “Stargate [Tablet I]” is so heavy that, the drum quickly transitions to blast beats and low guttural growls streaming beneath the crushing drums, the dark side of Blood Incantation achieves a cinematic quality in which the cavernous riffs conjure up dreary images of sci-fi aliens and Anunnaki mythos. The stylistic approach became much more progressive and saturated with the 70s synthesizer organ and guitar solos revealing the sophistication of the composition, as the riffs start to become gloomy.

The lead guitar adds more to the atmosphere; the synth offers a thrilling experience that shifts the focus on ambient sci-fi filled-passages in “Stargate [Tablet II]”. Blood Incantation‘s third studio album exhibits a fine balance between the ambient aspects that create a cosmic sense and synth-ridden spectacles; capturing a cinematic scale, the acoustic guitar, and instrumental textures that truly elaborates the atmospheric side of death metal.

Then comes “Stargate [Tablet III]” to wreck with the seismic blast beats and while all of the songs are distinct, the cavernous style of Blood Incantation enables them to shift the atmosphere with various riff styling. Pink Floyd’s and Tangerine Dream‘s seminal influences are twisted in a cosmic cauldron, manifesting suspenseful wizardry. The emphasis on chugging Morbid Angel-like riffs imbues the song with a heavier tone.

The mid-pace of the songs continues throughout the album, whether through the ominous riffs and cavernous bellows, however “The Message [Tablet I]” retains the pummeling death metal vibe. The guitar chords are masterfully displayed therefore the intricacy of the musical arrangements compels the listener, riffs are filled to the brim with all the splendid qualities be it the melodic leads, tremolo-picked riffs, or the otherworldly atmosphere of death metal.

Brutally consistent and spacey, Blood Incantation finds its sound in a complex multilayered, multi-faceted approach to create a sonic landscape with all the mind-blowing moments embodying aspects of 70s progressive rock and cavernous death metal.

While much more atmospherically oriented than any death metal band, Blood Incantation redefines its roots by displaying excellent musicianship in “Message [Tablet II]” with the mixture of technical riffs, chants, exotic guitar strings, and jazz elements that would remind many of the band Hawkwind and King Crimson this song perfectly fits with the musical direction. The brutal augmentation of drumming, ranging from crushing double-kick and swift blast beats, to slower atmospheric guitar work shows superb skill and craftsmanship.

Maintaining eerie, ethereal synth landscapes to the melodic and harmonized lead guitars convey a rewarding listening experience that can easily be nominated for the best death metal album of the year.

The tempos range from slow to mid-paced, heavy riff frills galore aplenty, and slow doom moments are fused in the song structure; “Absolute Elsewhere” is a tour de tour to Blood Incantation’s EP “Timewave Zero”. These variations and sonic immersion into the unearthly spectrum of Tangerine Dream, Eloy, and Pink Floyd provide an epic vibe to the closing mammoth track “The Message [Tablet III]”.

The organ instrument is reminiscent of 70s progressive rock bands, these fragments and guitar melodies are shrewdly integrated into the songs with cavernous riffs and reverb-drenched growls that hold the rhythm. The song features many sci-fi moments from the tremolo-laden picked riffs that perfectly build up a scathing tempo of the blasting drums, however the fine art of composition that Blood Incantation brings to their trademark is splendidly arrayed.

REVIEW SCORE

  • Music / Songwriting 10/10
  • Vocals / Lyrics 10/10
  • Mix / Production 10/10
  • Artwork & Packaging 10/10
  • Originality 10/10
10

Blood Incantation showcases an expansive take on progressive death metal and ambiance, the music is filled with vast surreal soundscapes that offer utter brilliance, this is a breathtaking and dark journey through realms of cosmic death metal.

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