Reviews, Interviews, and Podcasts celebrating the best Extreme Metal music

BLOOD INCANTATION – ABSOLUTE ELSEWHERE

The destination after crossing the Luminescent Bridge

Blood Incantation is a band everyone is likely familiar with, but to summarize: Death Metal capable of causing one’s soul to Astral Project to the Pyramids on Mars. Listeners of BI are familiar with the juxtaposition of the furious, technical, guitar led Death Metal, and spacey synth driven ambiance. Couple the bands sound with their relentless touring schedule and all-encompasing media output, and they have ascended to the highest realms of musicianship.

There is simply too much to say about this album, and there are other places you can read info about the gear, etymology, and songwriting process for the album. To give even more info, the band has created a discord, and there is even a fun phone/picture/app that will give you some more esoteric clues. This album review will focus on what BI does best: Cosmic Music for Cosmic People. Approach with an open mind and experience the pure pschedelic nature of our universe and the album Absolute Elsewhere!!!

Psychedelia can mean a lot of different things, and everyone has their own interpretation of what that is what they consider to be “abnormal”. Musically, psychedelia can be easier delineated by some unique eccentricities: repeating passages that subtly change over time, abrupt and drastic transitions, a mesmerizing ambiance, an almost synesthesia like effect , and a hypnotic otherworldly pull. Classically, this was prevalent in Middle Eastern and African music and was later adopted into the nascent electronic scene in the 60s. Psychedelic rock blossomed the 70s before the rise of metal in the 80s, and the 90s saw hip hop experiment with these sounds, particularly in the south. Today, almost every genre of music has a psych subgenre, from Grizzly Bear to King Gizzard… to SOPHIE and, of course, to metal. The obvious genres are of the Doom/Stoner Sludge variety, but my personal favorties are death and black metal. I will tackle psychedelic BM (and Dungeon Synth) with a future article. I have already addressed a psychedelic DM album from last year by Void Ceremony, so check that out for some more recs.

Blood Incantation is arguably the genre definition for PDM, approaching the genre with unrivaled technicality, musical landscapes unlike anything else, and just the best taste there is. BI is an all senses assault from their album art, lyrical themes, and their music itself. Sister band Spectral Voice and members’ involvement in other projects like Stormkeep and Wayfarer leave their place in music undeniable.

Absolute Elsewhere is a seamless crossover of technical death metal, eclectic alien ambiance reminisent of vintage synth electronics, and psych rock a la Pink Floyd (homeboys cleans on  the album even sound just like David Gilmour) and many others. Transitions occur before you know it, and nothing ever feels drawn out or excessive. The band even launched an interactive app to find clues and hints about the new album. I went back and forth on how to cover this album and even drafted up a brief play-by-play of the album but I think it’s best to let the album speak for itself. 

Buy this album, buy their merch, read about ancient civilizations and aliens, sit in a dark room, and take a journey through the Stargate. Links to their bandcamp, a music video, and frontman Paul Reidl’s ig page are below. If you get a chance to see them live DO IT!!!! without hesitation, amazing performance!


BANDCAMP

IG

This is half the album btw

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