Rating: 6/10

Blood Incantation’s Absolute Elsewhere offers a bold instrumental journey, but struggles to deliver the full punch expected from a standout metal release.

Blood Incantation’s Absolute Elsewhere is an intriguing dive into expansive soundscapes, where the music takes precedence and the vocals step into the background. At just six tracks, none under five minutes, this album feels more like a cinematic journey than a traditional death metal offering. The band’s signature technical prowess is on full display, but the overall impact? A bit of a mixed bag.

Production-wise, the album struggles to balance its heavier moments with its more atmospheric, softer parts. The soundscapes are beautifully constructed, but when the music turns heavy, it feels like the mix doesn’t quite carry the same punch. While previous works may have leaned into more aggressive tendencies, this album chooses a more instrumental, almost meditative approach, although less so than its predecessor. It’s musically innovative and ambitious, though at times the vocals feel like an afterthought—there, but not fully commanding the listener’s attention.

Speaking of vocals, while there are some heavy, guttural moments, they never quite break through the instrumental dominance. It’s clear that Absolute Elsewhere isn’t about the lyrics or vocal performance. Instead, the focus is squarely on the instruments, where Blood Incantation shines the brightest. The band’s musicianship is undeniable, with guitars, bass, and drums all weaving together to create a dense, immersive atmosphere.

The album does maintain interest from start to finish, though it leans more into creating a mood than delivering hard-hitting metal. Tracks flow seamlessly into each other, building on layers of sound that are at once powerful and diverse. However, despite the impressive musicianship and well-crafted soundscapes, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something is missing. There’s emotional weight here, but it’s fleeting, never quite sticking with you after the album ends.

For those new to Blood Incantation, this album might seem like an intriguing, if not slightly underwhelming, introduction. It’s clear a lot of effort went into Absolute Elsewhere, but the payoff doesn’t fully land. There are moments of brilliance, but they’re often overshadowed by the album’s tendency to meander. It’s not a bad album by any stretch, but it doesn’t quite live up to the expectation of being a groundbreaking metal release.

In the end, Absolute Elsewhere is a solid effort, but it’s more of an instrumental journey than a classic metal album. It’ll leave some listeners captivated and others waiting for something with a bit more bite.
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Blood Incantation

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