Florida gets all the press for its Death Metal scene in the late 70's, early 80's.  Honestly, it is well deserved press but we cannot, and will not, forget about the New York death metal scene.  I'm not going to sit here and name all the bands from that scene (other than IMMOLATION, who are gods) but INCANTATION is one of those New York pioneers.  The guys are, simply put, living legends and are just around the corner from celebrating 30 years.  That is a great milestone for any band of any genre but for a death metal band it is just flat out outstanding that, 30 years into their career they are still releasing albums that can cave in your skull.

There isn't anything on this record that breaks new ground—nor would I expect there to be. After all, when you helped pioneer a genre, you have already done the ground breaking.  What is there left to do other than continue to rip it up by the roots?  This album does that, indeed. I've been listening to INCANTATION for a long time but I missed out on their last couple records, because I listen to 40,000 different bands and sometimes they get lost in the cracks. This album definitely pulls me back in. "Profane Nexus," their 10^th full length studio album, is, as expected, a dirge of sonic excess. This album is one giant wall of sound so dense that calling it heavy metal would be an understatement. With headphones on, it sounds like a journey thru hell itself. Accenting the death, without removing any of the intensity, are the passages of doom sprinkled throughout that really give it the full sound of despair.

INCANTATION, however, isn't just a band that relies on atmosphere to get by. John McEntee, vocalist and guitarist, is once again showing he has plenty of riffs to pull out of his book.  The opening track, "Muse," begins with the dramatic flair that death metal is known for: pummeling drums, deep vocals, and sinister riffs.  Just after the two-minute mark, the riffs turn into total groove before slowing down into a doom passage that would make MY DYING BRIDE proud.  Mixing doom and death isn't uncommon but no one does it like these guys. "Incorporeal Despair," is light on the riffs; the guitar is clean in some parts and a blanket of heaviness in others.  The band retains its signature sound through the use of the bass, where Chuck Sherwood shows how effective it is to wander off the beaten path.  What really keeps the band interesting is their ability to switch so quickly between the two styles at the drop of the hat.  "Lus Sepulcri" forgoes the doom and goes back to their death roots, as does the short but very brutal "Xipe Totec." "Lus Sepulcri" also features some great bass; Sherwood seems to play what he wants while still making it fit the sound.

Long time drummer Kyle Severn is a locomotive of pure energy.  This guy must have a battery shoved up his ass, he just never quits for a second.  He really lays down a solid foundation, even when the band slows down to doom it all out.  His transitions from snare to cymbal and back can't be beat. The whole package is rounded out with a nice, loud production that doesn't distort the sound or take away the edge.  If you want to hear a legendary band that is still at the top of their game and still retains the elements that made them famous to begin with, this album is a must have for Death Metal fans.