Blood Incantation Absolute Elsewhere

The thing about Blood Incantation is ever since Hidden History of the Human Race, it’s been very clear that they’ve been dreaming of better for themselves, to unfurl into the winds of space in hopes of being propelled to new worlds, no matter what that meant. They became endearingly conceptual to the point of those less open-minded questioning their intent or placement in genre. It’s like destiny that we’ve reached this veritable high mark of progression a few more projects in and it only shows the expanse that lies ahead in the future, uncharted and unknowable. For now, Absolute Elsewhere is more than a pit stop on this journey, it’s a planet-sized attraction brimming with appeal.

Technically consisting of just two tracks - a staple for the band at this point - “The Stargate” and “The Message” are both profound musical institutions. Each can be viewed as suites with three parts each called “Tablets” and this is what you’ll see on streaming services, though there’s no real advantage to doing so unless you really only like “Tablet I” of either song for adding to playlists. As usual, these are meant to be experienced in whole, an end-to-end explorative mindmeld with the freakiest aliens you can find, no probes required. It’s like a laser light show for the soul.

Just like on Luminescent Bridge, Absolute Elsewhere dispels doubt by starting off undeniably metal. Curvy, progressive, and agile instrumentation acts as a launchpad to propel us into the meat of the album. I love the full-throated bass, the drums always seem to have a powerful sense on where to go and what to do to drive the music forward at the perfect time, but it’s barely even two minutes into this introductive “Tablet I” that we get to the real heart of this album: classic progressive rock. Riveting synths, tranquil melodies, and guitar solos plucked right from the ‘70s give Blood Incantation all the space - pun absolutely intended - they need to create a fluidly varied album.

Each suite has a chewy, technicolor core that feels like Pink Floyd and RUSH worship just as much as it does originally progressive movements driven by ambience and synths. This is real synapse-tickling shit, likely nothing you haven’t heard before style-wise, but the juxtapositioning of these parts with star-imploding death metal tirades bear forth an ocean blue nebula of calm and catharsis. “The Stargate [Tablet II]” straight up features Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream on synths, Mellotron, and programming which makes it far more authentic than most takes on this sound. Nicklas Malmqvist (Hällas) provides the same throughout the rest of the album and goddamn does he make the most of it on “The Message [Tablet II]” which just literally feels like I’m going back to my prog rock and metal obsessed days where discovery was enrapturing and altered the trajectory of my tastes forever.

I’ll keep it real with you on this metal and hardcore site: often, the metal sections of Absolute Elsewhere feel like a means to an end. Thematically, this might make sense. Going through the jagged, violent tumult and tribulation the metal-first sections represent to reach a gleaming oasis of prog serenity where you can simply enjoy the sights and sounds can very much be intended here. For me, when the atmosphere of the lighter sections is so resolute and realized, it’s easy to see anything else as getting in the way much like you would if you were actually taking an unpredictable trek like this… a star trek. But I don’t want to sell the metal too short - these are two halves of a whole and there’s a lot to dig into like the vague Nile-isms in the melodies on “The Stargate [Tablet III]”. I do enjoy the propelling force on “The Message [Tablet I]” as well where we get those high-flying guitar leads and solos more fitting of the calmer sections, but set on top of slamming drums and aside some black metal-esque riffs that help expand on the color palette of the album. “The Message [Tablet III]” also does this, but mixes in some trad metal-type riffs too, making for one of the best heavy sections on offer here.

I’ve been following this band since their first LP, an immediate mark of pride for the metal fans of Denver in addition to just being good-ass music - the music video/short film for “The Stargate” suite above is also a subtle love letter to Colorado’s vast and majestic landscapes, a pointed statement that they never forget where they’re from. They’ve done nothing but surprise and impress since then, braving genre crossovers in such a bold way that it’s hard to think of other contemporaries that do it as well or as adventurous (closest analogues in this manner that I know of are probably Horrendous and Tomb Mold, greats in their own rights). Even though this feels like something Paul Atreides would see and hear when he’s gone off melange, to call this a trip, with all the connotations that carries, seems lacking and maybe even cheapens the experience. It feels like something else entirely.

Bottom Line: The elsewhere is indeed absolute, uncompromising in its combination of sounds, ideas, philosophies, and yet so inviting. This is an apex of progressive death metal, reached by a band who have been working toward this for years now. Only Blood Incantation know what’s next - and maybe they’re still figuring it out too - all I know is that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be at this time.