Review Summary: Sanctuary is oblivion.
Words fall short when it comes to re-describing one of the most influential bands in death metal and the originators of the cavernous stench in it.
Incantation have been punctual since 2014 with one album every three years, so attentive observers might have been alert in 2023 for a new work, which now comes out with the title
Unholy Deification and maybe the best front cover we have ever seen from them lately. With it comes another generous chunk of the well-known, foundational
Incantation debauchery, which pummels and stomps like a charging rhino in frenzy.
As a case that doesn’t miss, they have never had a serious misstep in their long lifetime, and it would have been really worrisome if an actually bland album came out with the signature of this band.
Unholy Deification thrives on all that makes
Incantation legendary, from their particular, disgustingly aggressive harmonics, to the slow-paced, face-melting sections, mixed with violent thrash metal passages, excellent lyrics and of course, landmark top-notch vocals. The record shows quite efficient versatility on how all these different elements are intertwined, and pulls considerable punches from the first seconds of the opener “Offerings (The Swarm) IV”, a colossal jam that will make you happy that death metal exists in your life.
The same feeling is maintained throughout the whole of the release, as things progress and
Incantation unload their exquisite brand of blasphemy. Following the introductory mauling of “Offerings (The Swarm) IV”, tracks like “Chalice (Vessel Consanguineous) VIII” and “Exile (Defy the False) II” have a few of the most intense moments in the album, or you can go with “Altar (Unify in Carnage) V” or the hefty “Circle (Eye of Ascension) VII” to experience the band in its realm of snail-paced, funereal tempos. A section that reminds a lot of “Human Dissection” by
Demolition Hammer lies in the wonderful “Concordat (The Pact) I”, hinting the kind of thrash / death metal passages scattered across the otherwise classic
Incantation fashion, which slams hard through and through.
Celtic Frost’s spirit lives in the gloomy passages of “Homonculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX”, where the band also delivers some of the clearest doom / death metal they have ever composed.
Production-wise, the album has a clear and crispy sound, much like in
Sect of Vile Divinities and possibly even more smoothed. Tracks 6 “Megaron (Sunken Chamber) VI” and 7 “Convulse (Words of Power) III” are slightly less impactful compared to the rest of the material, but it’s just a case of trying hard to find a remark on an overall marvelous effort. I always have the underlying impression that their recent releases would sound even uglier and heavier if less polished just at the right amount, but that doesn’t take away anything from how hard-hitting
Unholy Deification actually is. Musically packed and with a great flow, there’s plenty of potent, dynamic guitar playing everywhere, and each time you listen to it you might end up with a different favorite tune.
It’s more likely that one day it will rain upwards, than that
Incantation will ever put out something subpar. Another successful day in the office for the band and for the fans, as
Unholy Deification keeps up their tendency to nail down remarkable releases during the last decade, with seemingly endless steam to keep going and enough inspiration in the bag. You know where your money is spent on when you get on this kind of ride, and once again it is totally worth it.
