When the original members of Incantation (Paul Ledney, Aragon Amori (R.I.P) and Brett Makowski) decided to leave the band due to some differences. Leaving John McEntee as the only member who decided to continue under the name Incantation. It was in the year 1990 when Profanatica spawned from the ashes of Incantation as a black metal band. Beside Absu and the U.S. black metal band Von, these three bands were the first black metal groups who initiated during the second wave of black metal in the USA. Profanatica has been around for almost 30 years and became famous for the profane acts of blasphemy. Therefore their unholy blackened music can be described as the most wicked and evil sounding band. Musically, the band draws its inspiration from legendary acts such Venom, Possessed, Bathory and Sarcofago. Drummer and vocalist Paul Ledney revealed that his codes of belief are influenced by the English occultist, poet and magician Aleister Crowley who created the religion of Thelema in the early 1900’s. Since establishment the anti-Christian outfit released four albums in the style of primitive black metal.

Profanatica managed to release some blasphemous records such as Profanatitas de Domonatia and Disgusting Blasphemies against God. The band recently signed a worldwide deal with the French underground label Season of Mist. Profanatica now returns with their most extreme and rawest album to date. The new album Rotting Incarnation of God is the fifth album and it lays on the heavy foundation of death/black metal. Profanatica isn’t the type of band that changes over time, and their music has been long soaked in atmosphere of darkness. The new album is a unique craft of malignant piece of morbid crescendo. The album starts with Liturgy of Impurity, which is a corrosive tune of droning guitar riffs and intense grinding drum work.

The embodiment of the Incantation sound is notable from the slow doomy passages and the demonic atmosphere. Rotting Incarnation of God is a crude black metal album, and there is an obscure sense when it comes to the guitar riffs which sounds like a razor sharp chainsaw. Profanatica doesn’t emphasize on melodies, the music is delivered in the most savage and vile form. Therefore there is an authenticity in the style and its true aspect comes from the originality of their unholy sound. The work of the devilish brilliance comes from the bass guitar which is the second main instrument after the drums. Prayer in Eclipse is carried forward viciously and it’s another iconoclastic burst of fast pummeling drums and fiendish rasps.

Broken Jew is demonstrated in the same primitive approach, while the drum work varies between slow and fast eruption. Profanatica‘s new album is an ungodly evil release by the band who is knowledgeable about mixing the pure sound of death/black and doom metal. Washed in the Blood of the Lord begins with a dissonant mixture of cacophonous guitar. The brutish strike of the drums is carried straight forward. There are also impressive fills by the drums in the mid tempo section, which adds depth to the track. Profanatica displays a coherent performance and there are many guitar hooks provided by Adam Besserer. The buzzing sound of the bass guitar is handled by Richard Olsen. This track can be described as eerie and slow. There is a great interaction between the hissing rasps of Paul Ledney and his technical ability in performing the sluggish drum beats.

Sacramental Cum is organic dark and atmospheric. It shows how the band has achieved a great level of musicianship. Even without altering their style, Profanatica are still able to come up with such great music. Mocked, Scourged and Shit Upon is another excellent track concentrated intensely on the drums and tremolo pickings, which creates a dreary atmosphere. The bass that produces harsh vibration and the demonic rasps are making this track another aggressive and visceral tune.

Profanatica continues to impress me with the album title track that begins with the disharmonious tone of the bass guitar. However, this track is filled with sharp tremolo pickings and crucial guitar hooks. Then it picks up with up tempo drum beats. If Rotting Incarnation of God was released back in the 1990’s the album would have been looked at as a classic blackened death metal. Many moments here reminds me of the classic albums such as Blasphemy’s album Fallen Angel of Doom and Beherit‘s second album Drawing down the Moon. Profanatica’s primitive take on black metal music is carried with vileness and bestiality. The album is brutal and this is exactly what you should expect from them.

Album closure In My Kingdom is soaked in the old fashioned tone of the down tuned, razor edged guitars. Profanatica, on their latest album, deliver a caustic piece of brutal black metal. The modern production and the metallic aggression makes this record sound ominous and evil. This is by far the band’s best effort in my humble opinion. Recommended for fans of Archgoat, Incantation, and Beherit.

Release Date: October 11th, 2019
Label: Season of Mist Underground Activists
Track list:

1. Liturgy of Impurity
2. Prayer in Eclipse
3. Broken Jew
4. Washed in the Blood of Lord
5. Sacramental Cum
6. Mocked, Scourged and Shit Upon
7. Tithing Cunt
8. Rotting Incarnation of God
9. Eucharist in Pain
10. In My Kingdom