I’m by no means an elitist, well at least not now. Once upon a time I was a total ‘death to false Metal’ devotee. I do still retain the thought that ‘trve’ music is probably some of the best and today we will be talking about arguably one of the ‘trvest’ Death Metal bands ever. I kind of feel like everyone who is into Metal should get on the Incantation wagon, trust me, it’ll change your life. They refuse to put out bad music and over the years have created some full-blown classics, so without further ado let us go Onward To Golgotha!
Onward To Golgotha being the title of the band’s debut album, and what an album it is! Incantation are a US Death Metal giant, formed in 1989 with a lust for Satanism and Blasphemy they have made their mark the world over. Even their more recent albums Dirges Of Elysium and Profane Nexus have proven to be classics in their own right. The blending of extremity from Death Metal to Funeral Doom have made the band what they are today. So can Sect Of Vile Divinities, the bands twelfth full length continue their legacy or is it time they were cast down in flames? Let’s see how this Relapse banger pans out.
Straight in with Ritual Impurity (Seven Of The Sky Is One) the band burst out with chaotic Death Metal riffs, classic drum patterns and the signature ultra-guttural vocals of John McEntee, cavernous Death Metal mastery. Propitiation gives us some further solid riffs and builds upon the opener with added melodic streaks. Bringing in notions of Doom comes Entrails Of The Hag Queen a real sluggish number that is a kind of all-round encompassing of who Incantation are. Black Fathom’s Fire plays with these ideas further in an apocalyptic display of Death Metal power, utterly crushing and euphoric.
Picking up some speed is Chant Of The Formless Dread, makes me wonder are Incantation the first purveyors of Brutal Death Metal? Surely they have to be up there! This track proving exactly that with the relentless drumming and vomit inducing spews, this is some heavy stuff. Special commendations to Kyle Severn in the song Shadow-Blade Masters Of Tempest And Maelstrom (sounds like a Power Metal song title). The drumming here is exquisite and a striking blend of speed and Doom, excellent stuff. I eagerly await the more-lengthy tracks when it comes to Incantation, as such Unborn Ambrosia clocks in at just over six minutes, slightly shorter than one might like especially when compared to the epic Elysium (Eternity Is Night) from Dirges. That said it’s still a real powerful Doom embodied Death Metal banger with some amazing guitar and drum work, but a lot more could have been done. To conclude we come to Siege Hive, it’s nothing too out of the ordinary for this album and truth by told the album could probably have just ceased with Unborn Ambrosia.
All in all I would probably say this is one of the weaker more recent Incantation albums, to me it feels like there is a fair bit of filler dotted about. This could easily have been scrapped in substitute for a ten minute plus track. None the less a bad Incantation album is still better than 90% of Death Metal out there today and the shining moments really do come to life. If you’re a big fan of Incantation or a discography completist then for sure this is one that you’ll want to add to your collection. For new fans however perhaps it’s best to stick with the old guard in Onward, Mortal Throne and Diabolical Conquest.
(7/10 George Caley)
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