OK, I reeeeeally need to revisit Incantation. Not only have I been enjoying the likes of Corpsessed, Gorephilia, Blaspherian and such, but the current wave of old school death metal has even got Century Media on the band wagon with the excellent Sonne Adam.
Profound Lore Records has simply decided to truly dig into the Incantation worship by releasing an album from a band that contains actual former Incantation members; notably vocalist Craig Pillard as well as live Incantation members Bill Venner (guitars) and Randi Stokes (bass) and a couple of Funebrarum chaps in Shawn Eldridge (drums) and Daryl Kahan (guitars). The end result is what you’d expect: A crawling, churning, cavernous monster of old school, and obviously Incantation-inspired death metal. Real fucking death metal, folks.
While certainly residing in the same general murky realm as label mates Vasaeleth and Impetuous Ritual, tonally, things are a little clearer, less chaotic and heavier with a little more focus on huge, slower, doomy passages. And I mean huge, monolithic segments that with Pillard’s subterranean bellow, resonate and rumble like a vast being crawling up from hell. While these moments are certainly the album’s highlights, there’s no skimping on some blastbeats, vile grooves or mid-paced lopes. Ultimately all the eights tracks have elements of all.
Look no further than opener “Chaos Apparition” for volatile mix of everything in one furious primal assault before “Chasm of Oceanus” reveals Disma’s apt grasp of truly oppressive, slow deathly dirges with a 7 minute monster of a track. Nothing is quite as nausea inducing or icky as their aforementioned label mates, but there’s a great, cavernous, dusty, archaic feel to Towards the Monolith; like the soundtrack of wondering into some old centuries old sacrificial tomb, all the while menacing tribal drums pound in the background. Just listen to the last few moments of the title track. The great old school cover artwork sums up the album’s sound perfectly.
All eight tracks on Towards the Monolith are stout, enjoyable oppressive numbers, but standouts have to be “Vault of Membros” and “Of A Past Forlorn” with their über old school, oozing Autopsy hues, menacing crawls and hefty lumbering grooves.
Yet another win for Profound Lore Records and another top notch 2011 old school death metal release.
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This record has got the goods. One of those complete packages that really creates an atmosphere, an energy that is tangible. This will very likely be on my end of the year list. Great album!
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 10:09Excellent album. Practically funeral doom in some passages.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 14:02fuck, this is murder. the guitar tone just buzzes with spite.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 15:18Best album of the year so far – everything death metal is supposed to be.
on Aug 1st, 2011 at 17:11