ALBUM REVIEW: Unholy Deification – Incantation
Death metal aficionados will be well versed in the murky depths that INCANTATION conjure. For over three decades, the American death metal band have been extremely prolific with both their potency for aural heaviness and regular slew of album releases, resulting in the band holding a reputation that can compete with the other heavyweights in the genre. Now, three years after the excellent Sect Of Vile Divinities, Unholy Deification is here and continues to showcase why INCANTATION are one of the flagbearers for death metal.
Picking right up where 2020’s effort left off, Unholy Deification roars out the blocks with Offerings (The Swarm) IV and instantly you recognise the work of INCANTATION as a barrage of twisting riffs, pummelling drums and the unmistakable low gutturals of John McEntee sets the scene in explosive fashion before the track submerges into the band’s more doomier territory allowing the murky atmosphere to take centre stage. It’s a strong opening and showcases INCANTATION have not lost any of their razor-sharp focus.
From there, Unholy Deification continues to showcase just why INCANTATION are regarded as one of the premier bands within death metal. Concordat (The Pact I) twists and turns with despairing menace and showcases the sinister edge to Luke Shively guitarwork before unloading a barrage of heaviness that feels akin to rolling thunder, Homunculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX dives into the doomier edge of the band’s arsenal to crawl at a funeral pace allowing the atmosphere to engulf you slowly and Invocation (Chthonic Merge) X sounds absolutely colossal in its scope and execution.
Perhaps though, what is most impressive about Unholy Deification is that it never feels laboured or forced in its near 42 minute runtime. As they have proved countless times throughout their lengthy career, INCANTATION are far from being a meat and potatoes death metal band, they often throw in curveballs here and there throughout their records – be it a twisting riff, some psychedelic interchanges or atmospheric-heavy rumblings. And that is as clear as day on Unholy Deification. Consistently throughout the album, the band keep you on your toes and a perfect example of this is Megaron (Sunken Chamber) VI. What starts as a foreboding doomy introduction where you feel you’re descending into the plains of oblivion, the track snaps into life as a cacophony of thundering riffs, pounding drums and guttural snarls ensnare your attention and keep your pulse racing.
To be at your twelfth album, three decades in, and still dispatch unrelenting heaviness and extremity is an achievement in itself but INCANTATION have rarely taken the foot off the gas throughout their career. Unholy Deification showcases a band at the top of their game and sits comfortably alongside their decorated discography. Death metal may be experiencing a renaissance with a horde of killer news bands reigniting interest in the genre, but with Unholy Deification, it shows that the old guard still have plenty of life in them yet.
Rating: 9/10
Unholy Deification is out now via Relapse Records.
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