Denver quartet Blood Incantation’s new album Absolute Elsewhere (Century Media Records) is a dense and unique mix of 70s Prog Rock and 90s Death Metal. As is de rigueur for the genre, and like two of their influences Pink Floyd and King Crimson, this 45-minute album is made up of just 2 tracks – “The Stargate” and “The Message” – each of which is split into three parts, or “tablets.”
Both tracks are sprawling epics stuffed with many twists and turns, and multifaceted soundtracks like beasts with intense Sci-Fi and philosophical leanings. The artwork even mirrors the metaphysical tales told, with the surreal, alien landscape depicted reminiscent of Yes. It’s death metal Jim, but not as we know it. “The Stargate” starts off in a maelstrom of metallic fire and brimstone then it seamlessly winds you down many a different road, from shimmering David Gilmour-like guitar work and a restless, multi-layered bed of synths, to otherworldly acoustic guitar interludes and a stomping metal assault complete with guttural vocals. It is an engaging and all-encompassing listen but not one that is easy to get into, its complexity makes tackling it a daunting task.
It is not accessible, easy-to-digest music to play on the go but it is worth the effort. “The Message” starts with a juxtaposition between alternative, jangly guitar and heavier passages populated with frenetic drumming and a deep groove. Then things get proggier, with a cyclical riff that builds in power and morphs to an atmospheric passage similar to Pink Floyd, populated with echoey guitars and vocals. The last part hits hard, greeting you with a brutal double bass drum-led barrage and a head-banging rhythm. Light and airy bits, complete with flute, weave in and out – breaking up the heaviness and adding to the intense atmosphere. Despite the many seemingly disparate changes sitting side by side, this piece and the record as a whole has a natural ebb and flow to it.
Absolute Elsewhere is a unique record, whose dense, thickly layered music and slightly indulgent running times are a bit off-putting. But persevere and you are rewarded with a richly woven prog death metal hybrid that is anything but boring.
Buy the album here:
https://amzn.to/3ZI050R
8 / 10
THOMAS THROWER