Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: Denver, Colorado based progressive death metal auteurs Blood Incantation have become renowned for their overarching science fiction themes and cosmic reimagining of genre motifs, with 2019's sophomore triumph Hidden History Of The Human Race garnering immense acclaim and exposure. Unexpectedly, their 2022 follow up would rip a page right from the book of Tangerine Dream with Timewave Zero being made up entirely of ambient synth-laden pieces designed to serve as a soundtrack to passing through the stars. With this unpredictable penchant and clear lack of genre boundaries illuminated, anticipation was rife to see if the band would have the balls and brains to marry both opposing sonic guises and that's precisely what Absolute Elsewhere delivers. Named after the mid-70s prog collective (who once featured King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford), and even featuring Tangerine Dream's Thorsten Quaesching, the album is made up of two tracks, both broken into three segments each, that weave hallucinogenic death metal with synthwave prog, Krautrock, and euphoric alien ambience to conjure a uniquely transcendental listening experience. This ain't your granddaddy's prog rock, nor is it your daddy's death metal, but in a sense, it's kind of both.

Review: As Denver, Colorado progressive death metal outfit Blood Incantation become increasingly renowned for their science fiction indebted, cosmic reappraisal of the extreme metal genre, it only makes sense that following on from the towering heights of 2019's sophomore effort Hidden History Of The Human Race, and the unexpected 2022 follow up Timewave Zero which saw their Tangerine Dream worship amped up to 11 with a project consisting solely of ambient synthwave pieces acting to serve as soundtrack to passing through the stargate, that eventually these disparate styles from the same artists would eventually collide. Taking its title from the mid-70's prog collective (who once featured King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford), with Tangerine Dream's own Thorsten Quaesching even offering contributions, Absolute Elsewhere boasts two lengthy tracks, segmented into three pieces each, weaving their signature brand of hallucinogenic death metal with synth-laden prog, krautrock, and euphoric alien ambience to conjure a uniquely transportive listening experience. While not exactly your granddaddy's prog rock, nor your daddy's death metal, in a sense, it's kind of both.

Review: Following on from the creative highs of 2019's sophomore effort Hidden History Of The Human Race and its sidewinder of a successor Timewave Zero some three years later, which saw their love of Tangerine Dream ramped up to a previously undiscovered intensity with ambient synthwave pieces in place of their more trademark progressive death metal, Blood Incantation from Denver Colorado have gone one step further and featured contributions from the long lasting prog/synth crew's Thorsten Quaesching on Absolute Elsewhere. The album boasts a pair of (very) long tracks, chopped into three interlocking pieces each, incorporating their signature brand of hallucinogenic death metal with synth-laden prog, Krautrock and euphoric alien ambience to conjure a uniquely transportive listening experience. It's neither your traditional prog rock nor conventional death metal, but at the same time kind of both.