| | Full Review | Ratings (715) |
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| 4.0 excellent | Alabaster Jones | August 19th 16 |
Sweet lord the production on this thing is delicious. And you best take a good hard look at the crater on the cover because that's exactly how you and anything within a five-mile radius is going to look after this thing is over. From the opening seconds of Starspawn, Blood Incantation race forth with a bevy of angular riffing, thick bass, drums with a sizable punch, and low, cavernous vocals. There are equal parts technical and progressive stylings to this death metal, and though comparisons are made to bands like Timeghoul, the band manages to sound like their own selves, with spacey atmospherics and haunting progressive passages trading off with hungry, organic technical assault. It's unfortunately a bit short, and ends somewhat abruptly after starting out with their best track in the monolithic opener, but the album nonetheless manages to be a satisfying listen. Needless to say, if you're a fan of death metal, this album definitely warrants a listen and this band definitely warrants an eye being kept on them.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Black Daimon | August 8th 16 |
There's an ambiance underlying the record that elevates it as a listen. Throughout its short
runtime, it captures the essence of mystery, horror, and the cosmos perfectly. Your mind could
wander all day with the imagery, nostalgia and general feeling that Starspawn provides within its
unrelentingly beautiful and chasmic folds.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Andy H. B. | August 1st 16 |
holy fuck on a ritz
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Brandon Scott EMERITUS | August 1st 16 |
Well, this is really good.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | snekks fer dinnah | June 13th 24 |
a frankenstein of bits and pieces of every kind of dm sewn together with prog stitching, resulting in a lack of resemblance to either of its namesakes
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Chino smoking it up! | August 20th 19 |
Can t stop....this should have twice this lenght. Fave tracks are both Vitrifications m/r
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | BRAman22 | September 14th 16 |
Starspawn is an absolutely brilliant tech death
album that could stand face to face with Gorguts.
The true masterpiece is the 13 minute opener that
progresses flawlessly from section to section.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Bedex | March 24th 20 |
Now this is how you play around with different genres in a coherent manner. The first track showcases this especially well, opening with no mercy on hellish dm, showing hints of bm, fat doom riffs, beautiful dissonant guitars at 3:40, another excellent doom break at 8:35, atmospheric guitars at 11:40, back to fatness. And it all flows superbly well. The prod is miles better than on the EP, and the vox is fantastically atmospheric - reminds of Saturnus with its low ended reverberated growls. Bizarrely I get more Egyptian vibes out of this than I do space vibes. Now I don't think it is perfect, given there are some wankery solos here and there that don't seem like they work as well as on the EP. 2 is an absolute hellish jam and perhaps my fave track on the record unlike a lot of the folks here? 3 is its direct contender as their greatest implementation of atmospheric dm yet, quite sublime. 4 starts off on an ominous drone intro (me likey), and goes back to hellishness thereafter, while 5 does the same but feels a touch more generic. Yummy modern dm. 3.9
Bump |
| 4.3 superb | Erwann S. STAFF | October 29th 19 |
As alien as death metal can get. Stellar production, the bass is CRISPAY. It's a shame it's only 35 minutes long, if it was 15 minutes longer (of the same quality as the 35 already present) it would likely go up. The two Vitrifications are the true bangers here.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | commonist | July 19th 18 |
85/100. A refreshing spin on both Death Metal and Metal as a whole. Blood Incantation's Starspawn is cavernous, brutal, and bloody, resulting in one of the most satisfying metal records I've heard from the last five years. Between the siren-like guitar solos to the demonic growling of frontman Paul Riedl, Starspawn will leave you dizzy, lost in the abyss of the cosmos.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Risodo | May 20th 18 |
Blood Incantation is really amazing, going against much of what i've been looking around these past weeks. "Starspawn" is much more of a malevolent symphony than a record that brings together songs composed by the band. Here you find a beautiful differentiated option that looks just as old school as this interesting space-themed Death Metal footprint.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | snorfledumpkin | April 24th 18 |
This album is at its best when it's hitting on a distinctive theme with one of their incredible, dissonant melodies (e.g. both Vitification of Bloods). Some of the more straightforward chuggy riffs aren't the greatest, despite an appealing overall sound and atmosphere.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | thurs | February 9th 18 |
Convincing. Excellent songwriting, and mesmerizing that it was recorded as a near-flawless live performance. Great tempo changes, flow, and musicianship. Aesthetic is top notch. The production and mastering of this album is simply the best I have ever heard for any extreme metal release. The drum tone is irresistible.
Bump |
| 0.0 | emester | July 29th 16 |
Seldom do you ever come across an album that perfectly balances ambition with self awareness and selective restraint such as Starspawn. The "wow" moments on the record aren't half assed attempts to elicit a reaction from a listener but actually incorporate themselves as integral parts to their respective tracks. Even if you strip that ingenious use of songwriting away from this record, the traditional death metal elements are still the true foundations of Starspawn and alone would still make for a fantastic album. In the end, what we got here is possible the best metal record of the year (so far) and one of the best death metal records of the last 5 years.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Packy91 | August 30th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Uzumaki | April 26th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Dizchu | April 22nd 24 |
| 3.5 great | Toolock | December 17th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Verdr | November 30th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arche | November 17th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | tcarafi | October 4th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Titan | October 1st 23 |
| 4.5 superb | gdask | September 29th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Compachi | September 24th 23 |
| 3.5 great | ffs | January 4th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Dryden | December 30th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | yinei007 | December 23rd 22 |
| 4.5 superb | MvdW | December 13th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo05 | November 25th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | EasyWR | October 8th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | lordfurd | September 16th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Bren80 | July 31st 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Torito | May 29th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Em1994 | February 24th 22 |
| 3.5 great | qt | February 19th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Jdub435 | January 19th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Oobaloo | January 12th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Onyx | December 17th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lvxfra | October 22nd 21 |
| 2.5 average | Spag | September 29th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jips | August 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | bungy | July 27th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jalapeno CONTRIBUTOR | July 9th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nimlot | July 3rd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Korpcun | April 14th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Taku | April 12th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | El Olam | February 22nd 21 |
| 4.5 superb | AntalWS | January 27th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | November 24th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Coast | November 24th 20 |
| 3.0 good | Runeii | September 26th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kevin | August 24th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Source | June 29th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Krhx91 | May 7th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | slish | April 25th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | wilemz | April 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ray91 | March 10th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vasilis S. CONTRIBUTOR | February 29th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | AddiQui | February 26th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skye09 | February 13th 20 |
| 3.5 great | dabisco | February 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | CK1991 | January 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | BeeRyan | January 30th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | kleggi | January 22nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | TanMan | January 18th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | hsb | January 6th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Dogie | January 4th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | January 3rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Gbhill | January 1st 20 |
| 3.5 great | Atari STAFF | December 30th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | clayson | December 19th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | solrage | November 27th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale STAFF | November 23rd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | zzf1918 | November 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arvesynd | November 14th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Aranox | November 11th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Wizard | November 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Santet | November 9th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | ralpo | October 24th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | JoeTex | October 17th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trundle | October 17th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | cfg26 | October 16th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | A.R.O. STAFF | September 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | blou52 | July 4th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ryus | June 5th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Josh | May 8th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flave | February 22nd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | btati | September 12th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | emmny | July 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | pbass0 | July 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loot | May 27th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Warpt | May 10th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | madtwoo | April 5th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | April 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | January 28th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | January 3rd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | CJBobs | December 24th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Scoob | December 6th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Jake E. | December 5th 17 |
| 4.3 superb | clavier EMERITUS | November 5th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | P0laris | October 23rd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Ungueti | October 16th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | AriDoe | August 30th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | tomr4 | August 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | EJinHD | April 29th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Pon EMERITUS | April 22nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Surtur | April 13th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Vamos | March 17th 17 |
| 3.5 great | lorr | March 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | mikep87 | February 15th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | trilo | January 13th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | GhostK | January 11th 17 |
| 3.5 great | gilly | January 9th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | ckssr1 | December 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kyle Ward EMERITUS | December 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | adr | December 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Piglet | December 16th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Jeejee | December 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | robotore | December 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | progsun | November 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | November 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | chayka | November 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnimas | November 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Brumas | November 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tgdv | November 5th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Ulairi4 | November 5th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | rid | November 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | November 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | October 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | shanks | October 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Krvst | October 9th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | JoeSef | October 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hyndez | October 8th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Geadom | October 5th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | October 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mRA | September 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thibs | September 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | elch21 | September 15th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Thor | September 14th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Egarran | September 14th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | SgtShock | September 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rail | September 8th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | Ulshad | September 7th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Loofre | September 5th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Faustus | September 3rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Inveigh | August 31st 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | August 25th 16 |
| 1.0 awful | Mills | August 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | August 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Elynna | August 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | MO | August 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Dmax28 | August 23rd 16 |
| 3.2 good | Trey STAFF | August 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dunpeal | August 22nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Prole | August 21st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Henry | August 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | bmelt CONTRIBUTOR | August 18th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Steev | August 17th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | August 15th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Feels | August 15th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | 8genre | August 12th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Bongo | August 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tasty | August 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | YakNips | August 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jots EMERITUS | August 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | p4p | August 1st 16 |
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