I have reviewed all of Blood Incantation’s prior albums and am a huge fan of their studio and live work.  The band was smart with not releasing a COVID album and their last album Hidden History of the Human Race, from 2019, just like their debut Starspawn, was on Dark Descent Records.  The stable line-up has definitely helped the band in numerous ways and album #3 Absolute Elsewhere sees the band making the jump to the big Century Media Records.

The band has been a touring machine over the years and will now receive a bigger budget.  Century Media took a chance on such a forward-thinking band and I am unsure if this album will polarize many of their ardent fans who just want brutality.

When the band released that instrumental ep in 2022 Timewave Zero, they were signaling to the masses their interest in ambient sounds.  The EP was not my thing, I readily admit to that.  As background music sure it was ok, but to be part of their discography it had many in the scene shaking their heads.

Fast forward to now and Absolute Elsewhere is not only forward-thinking, but may be one of the most off-the-wall death metal albums in recent memory.  The melding of their death metal style with ambient sounds, mixed now with 70’s prog and even Pink Floyd leanings, this album is something to behold.  Originally slated as only two songs, while that remains true, prior to the release the two tracks were separated into six separate compositions – smart move Blood Incantation!

The first three are “The Stargate” series and the remaining three are “The Message” series.  Starting with “The Stargate [Tablet I]” the beginning has a definite 70’s prog rock/metal feel to it and the drum rolls are incredible.  The music erupts and mastermind Paul Riedl lets out a killer growl and the pinch harmonics take us back to some 80’s sound.  More growls and the music picks up the pace sounding like Blood Incantation and then right into their striking cavernous blasts.  The sound on this, like their other albums, all organic greatness.  The 2 minute mark enters in those ambient instrumental sounds and very soothing I must say.  Very prog, very 70’s with some jazz style drumming and Mr. Isaac Faulk showcasing his skills!  This part has that Pink Floyd vibe written all over it.  The minute mark will show you with those guitar space sound effects.  Synth guitars!!!  I feel like I’m in the 70’s smoking a hookah and floating dreamlessly all over the place.  The guitar work of Paul and Morris Kolontyrsky is impeccable.  Jeff Barrett’s bass is audible underneath all of this and the death metal returns around the 5.30 mark.  More incredible guitar riff/jamming out moments with tremendous blast beats as the song travels towards its end.  What an opening song….as I pick my jaw up from the floor…

“The Stargate [Tablet III]” has some excellent opening guitar moments and spacey pinch harmonics over tremendous double bass drums.  The music is ferocious before settling into a space type of rhythm at the three-minute mark with some Middle Eastern sounds with the drums and acoustic guitar strumming that would not be out of place on a Nile album.  The vocoder effects at the four-minute moment contribute to the amazing sounds found within and the guitar solos are all batshit crazy!

“The Message [Tablet I]” is brutal and has tons of blasts and excellent transitions with respect to the guitar work – catchy, with the stop-and-start squeals.  About midway through the song are those ambient 70’s metal/rock moments that work great.  The song returns to the brutality and again the drums sound fabulous on this album.  “The Message [Tablet III]” finishes the album with supreme brutal violence.  The Pink Floyd styles at the 2-minute mark return and is that a flute I hear?  The spoken vocal style screams 1971, I swear, put on those bell bottoms and bring back those handlebar mustaches!!  The transition back into the metal is seamless.  The switching back and forth from the brutality, the 70’s sound and ambient sounds are all killer.

Blood Incantation’s Absolute Elsewhere kinda messed up my order for best of this year.  This could usurp my #2, which has been the new Deicide, since its release.  Regardless the production on this is warm and inviting and most of all organic, like their other albums.  Blood Incantation still records in Analog, as far as I know.  The music escapades on this match the album cover marvelously and goes along with their themes and imagery throughout the years.  If you ever wanted to hear what Pink Floyd would sound like if their decided to play death metal, well this is the album for you.  Hell, I don’t even like Pink Floyd, but I love this album.  This is a monumental release!

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments