Incantation - Entrantment of Evil MLP (2015)
Hell’s Headbangers
Review by Trevor Proctor
We
should never run out of praise for Incantation. Godfathers and pioneers of
Death Metal they’ve been at the forefront of the sub-genre for over twenty five
years. This is a band that’s never strayed from their chosen path, bringing us
Death Metal of the highest standard since their inception. Fads, trends, and
all manner of problems and opposition have come and went during this lengthy
period, during which Incantation has stood resolute, loyal to their roots and
delivering nothing but first rate metal.
Many
bands have been influenced and shaped by Incantation over the years yet very
few have managed to equal their music and fewer still will ever come close to
matching their achievements. Their first album “Onward to Golgotha” was
released in 1992 and to this day is regarded as a classic album, a true
founding block of the sub-genre that has easily stood the test of time whilst
also being an influence on so many Death Metal bands ever since.
Onward to
Golgotha brought Incantation to a worldwide audience almost twenty three years
ago yet just last year they released their tenth studio album “Dirges of
Elysium” which was an absolute smasher. It was also an album that many rated
very highly, it was my first ever 10/10 review for The Lair of Filth and one of
my albums of the year. Dirges… stands as a true testimony to Incantation -
showing they can still write and release music of such a high calibre so far
into their career, time has not dwindled nor diluted their aggression and
hunger whatsoever.
Onward
to Golgotha may have catapulted Incantation towards a well-deserved wider
audience but it was the Entrantment of Evil MLP that first set them on the road
to legendary status. Following two demo releases, Entrantment of Evil was released
in 1990 on 7” vinyl by Seraphic Decay Records and re-pressed a year later by
Relapse Records, again as a 7” single. The good news for us is that Hell’s Headbangers
has just released Entrantment of Evil for the first time ever on 12” vinyl and thankfully
we now have a chance to own this very significant piece of Death Metal.
Along
with the original four tracks this 12” features a bonus track, Profanation and
also includes exclusive silkscreened art on the B side. Also worthy of note is
the fact this is the only non-demo Incantation recording to feature Will Rahmer
from Mortician performing vocals. In terms of production it’s to be expected
there’s a significant difference between recent releases and Entrantment of
Evil, with Entrantment obviously sounding more raw and primal. However this
rawness is part of the attraction, that and the standard of music during which
you can easily hear the Incantation of today.
This is history in the making and
you want it to sound exactly like it did in the first place. Raw and laced with
their trademark atmosphere of blasphemy and evil this is Death Metal as it was
always intended to sound. A little rough around the edges yes, but see this as positive.
Bonus track, Profanation, was the opening track on both Incantation demo
releases and is a tasty inclusion for completists. As well as being a chance to
own some outstanding death metal on vinyl for the first time in almost twenty
five years, it’s also a chance to own a piece of history and as such is an
essential purchase for any Death Metal fan.
Tracklist:
1 - Entrantment of Evil.
2 - Eternal Torture.
3 - Devoured Death.
4 - Unholy Massacre.
5 - Profanation (demo – bonus track)
Incantation - Entrantment of Evil MLP is available now from Hell’s Headbangers.
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