From Bandcamp, BLOOD INCANTATION’s “Absolute Elsewhere” is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. At roughly 45 minutes, the two compositions that make up this album are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope, melding the 70's Prog leanings of TANGERINE DREAM with the deathly intent of MORBID ANGEL. “Absolute Elsewhere,” which takes its title from the mid-70's Prog collective, BLOOD INCANTATION are leaving the notion of genre behind and writing a new language for extreme music itself.” It essentially has two songs, divided into three parts respectively.

“The Stargate [Tablet 1]” is first, and it begins with weighted Progressive elements of Doom, which forays into deep aggression with guttural vocals. Foreboding elements rise and fall like a snake in the corner that you can’t see, and just when the aggression becomes overbearing, it retreats into ambiance. It makes me feel like RUSH in “2112” when they ask, “what can this strange device be?” This is indeed a sound that I have not heard before. The leads remind me of PINK FLOYD, and the band can be as graceful and opulent as they can filthy and assertive. The second part of the movement explores a lot of ambiance, like a trip to the deep recesses of space. You can visualize distant galaxies, in all their splendor, and it’s almost too beautiful to even look at. The gentle sway of acoustic guitars warms you from the feet up, until the end, when suddenly a black hole appears and gravity sucks you in. There is no turning back.

The final part of the movement begins with an ardent Death Metal sound, but the transition to melody almost occurs without you being aware. From there, the two competing sounds are locked in mortal combat, and neither side is giving an inch. “The Message [Tablet 1]” pushes bright melodies out of the gate, and then are glorious. You can feel the skies shift a little though, from blue to cloudy, and eventually the storm on the horizon bears down on you with violent winds and pounding rain. The second part features some nifty bass work and melody that come with a side of sweet vocal harmonies. The final movement achieves another perfect balance of aggression and weight with melody and ample time for reflection. It takes a turn at the half-way mark, and all of the varied elements the band uses seem to come together, and they ride together into the cosmos

Overall, the album delivers a stunning display of balance—an artful contrast of light and dark, chaos and control, both musical and existential. It masterfully balances aggression with melody, showcasing a rare ability to create harmonies that soar over deep, guttural growls and blistering guitar work, a testament to the band's technical prowess and deep understanding of composition. The pacing of the album is impeccable, transitioning seamlessly from relentless assaults to reflective, constantly in motion. With each listen, this balance becomes more profound, revealing layers of complexity and nuance that make it one of the most compelling metal releases of the year.