If we’re honest, not many bands manage to consistently put out interesting releases, one after another. More often than not, later albums in a band’s discography feel like weaker versions of their earlier works. Rare indeed are the groups that manage to pique interest with every new album, without veering too far into entirely new musical directions.

Not that we always look for drastic changes. More often than not, we’re content with acts that have been doing the same thing for years—and we’re damn happy with it.

That said, Blood Incantation defies almost every expectation altogether. Their combination of guttural, 90s-inspired technical death metal with influences like King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and, probably, a bunch of aliens stirring the pot, results in unique and compelling releases time and again.

“Absolute Elsewhere” takes what the band achieved on their previous album and blends it with the experimental meddling of their past work. On one hand, it’s so avant-garde it feels like an almost-bizarre retro science fiction film. On the other, it brims with the aggressive writing that defines this American group so well.

Side A, titled “The Stargate” (and subdivided into “Tablet I” to “Tablet III”), is a journey through a galaxy of swirling, overly-progressive guitar riffs, ear-pounding blast beats, and synths. These synths are placed precisely in the right spots and quantities to elevate the music without overshadowing the rest. This Morbid Angel-meets-King Crimson album is layered with Paul Riedl’s guttural vocals, which add a heavier touch than you might have anticipated.

“Stargate” breaks its form midway, shifting into five minutes of outer-worldly tunes that seem to communicate both with the universe and the back of your mind as you process it all. These moments rely on intricate synth work, exotic riffs, and cinematic, scene-like soundscapes. The track then breaks form again, as some of the heaviest riffs in the band’s career smack you mercilessly in the face.

The band’s use of synths and other effects never replaces the core instrumentation. Instead, they remain firmly in the background, serving as an integral element that enhances the overall sound without transforming the tracks into synth-driven pieces. This is why Blood Incantation succeeds in incorporating diverse musical elements—they never overdo it and never lose sight of their central identity: flesh-cutting death metal.

Side B, titled “The Message” (again divided into “Tablet I” to “Tablet III”), opens with a myriad of tunes that shift from fast-paced acoustic melodies to a Gorguts-esque rollercoaster of riffs. This section culminates in a scream that seamlessly transitions into the second part of “The Message.” Like the second Tablet on Side A, this part provides a brief, reflective moment, inviting the listener to ponder the album’s central questions: life, death, the meaning of humanity, sacrifice, and beyond.

I didn’t delve deeply into the lyrics, as I believe each listener should experience them individually. However, in true Blood Incantation fashion, they revolve around existential themes of life, Earth, the stars, and the cosmos. I mean, did you really expect anything else?

The 11-minute closing track, the third “Tablet”, ties everything together in an all-encompassing package. It moves seamlessly from dreamy acoustic passages to furious, headbanging riffs, progressive interludes, and a breathtaking finale.

This new album by Blood Incantation is bound to elicit mixed reactions, as any bold artistic work would. In my opinion, the band has managed to reinvent themselves yet again, and it sounds fantastic.

Review by: Omer

Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: October 2024

Rating: 9/10

Tracklist:

1. The Stargate [Tablet I]
2. The Stargate [Tablet II]
3. The Stargate [Tablet III]
4. The Message [Tablet I]
5. The Message [Tablet II]
6. The Message [Tablet III]