ALBUM REVIEW: Absolute Elsewhere – Blood Incantation
Cosmic death metal masters BLOOD INCANTATION make a welcome return after five years and follow up the spectacular Hidden History Of The Human Race and go one further with the follow up, the even more spectacular and bold Absolute Elsewhere and in doing so, have undoubtedly made the album of their career so far and one of the most forward thinking and mind expanding death metal albums of not just recent years, but of all time as well.
Even more so than before, the progressive rock influence that bleeds through the music and ethos of BLOOD INCANTATION is extremely prevalent. With the albums title directly referencing the 70s band that featured the drummer of prog rock heroes KING CRIMSON, Bill Bruford. When those progressive rock elements, alongside the massive influence of progressive electronic masters TANGERINE DREAM, are mixed in with the crushing death metal, then the results are simply mind-blowing. Cinematic from the beginning in both its outlook and its delivery, this takes BLOOD INCANTATIONS sci-fi infused death metal to new levels of sonic interplanetary brilliance, and when combined with those all important Prog elements, then you have a recipe for nothing but success.
The tracks that make up the bands cosmic junctures are called The Stargate and The Message with both of these having been split up into two lots of what they dub tablets (The Stargate: Tablets I-III and The Message: Tablets I-III) and the whole epic journey that makes up this album is a vast and rewarding listening experience when played in its entirety. With subtle and not so subtle flourishes of mind bending rhythms sharing listening space with sheer brutality and the way everything segues together is so impressive.
Absolute Elsewhere effortlessly switches between these musical soundscapes with ease and the musicianship on the album is nothing short of amazing with the vocals of Paul Riedl taking command as he switches between brutal roars and sublime vocal melodies with ease, and the whole record takes on so many thrilling audible twists and turns. The very important TANGERINE DREAM influence on the album is exemplified further as none other than current member Thorsten Quaesching brilliantly features on this album adding his synthesiser prowess alongside other guests Nicklas Malmqvist from HALLAD and Malte Gericke from NECROS CHRISTOS/SIJJIN and this trio add another level of musical influence to the music on Absolute Elsewhere.
Absolute Elsewhere is an album where the classic likes of SADUS, GORGUTS, MORBID ANGEL, CANNIBAL CORPSE, PINK FLOYD, KING CRIMSON and, of course, TANGERINE DREAM influences collide in the most mind bending and kaleidoscopic way possible. It is both beautiful and brutal and the results are truly spectacular, with BLOOD INCANTATION making a statement of musical independence and a hell of an impact from the very start to its stunning conclusion.
Absolute Elsewhere is the album that BLOOD INCANTATION have hinted at with their past material and have definitely delivered in spades with this record. You won’t hear an album as stirring and forward thinking as this when it comes to extreme music. It’s is that good and that impressive. BLOOD INCANTATION have teamed the stakes here, taking metal into another dimension with a look to the past and the present in the most life and death affirming way possible.
Rating: 9/10
Absolute Elsewhere is out now via Century Media Records.
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