Review BLOOD INCANTATION “Absolute Elsewhere”

Formed in 2011, Denver-based Blood Incantation has released two full-length albums to date. The quartet is into death metal, but to leave it at that would be way too short.

Blood Incantation’s base is extreme metal, but a glance at the tracklist of their third full-length already gives an idea that this album goes far beyond the usual approach. “Absolute Elsewhere” follows the sophomore release “Hidden History of the Human Race” and is a logical next step for the four passionate musicians. This doesn’t mean that the new album sounds like the previous one. The constant factor with Blood Incantation releases is that you never know what to expect.

“Absolute Everywhere” is a merciless mixture of brutal 90’s-based death metal combined with some progressive parts reminding of the 70’s when bands like Pink Floyd and Genesis were heading towards their first career peak. The inspiration for the album and the title was actually another prog band called Absolute Elsewhere, a formation that included King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford. This is also one of the reasons why the latest Blood Incantation album has an extra element, as some sci-fi is included in breathtaking songs like “The Stargate”.

What also added to the perfect vibe of this record is the fact that the band recorded at the Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin, which has already been home to bands like Tangerine Dreams and Eloy. Especially the intergalactic sci-fi parts reminded me of the latter.

It’s not easy to describe “Absolute Elsewhere” because there is so much to discover and explore. There is an enormous flow of creativity and a willingness to push the boundaries. This four-piece creates intuitive music as they have the technical skills and ability to turn their ideas into reality. While the death metal parts seem to follow the gravity of metal, it’s the atmospheric space moments that provide a sonic microgravity. This tension is the energy source for these two songs, both of which are an indescribable musical experience that you should listen to.