To date, the band has released twelve full-length albums, two live albums, four EPs, two singles, three split-EPs, one DVD, and three demos. Their most recent album, Unholy Deification, was released through Relapse Records in August 2023. The band have maintained a significant cult following and underground popularity since the '90s.[3]
Guitarist and vocalist John McEntee is the sole founding member of Incantation, though drummer Kyle Severn has appeared on every studio album since their third full-length, Diabolical Conquest.
History
Guitarist and vocalist John McEntee previously played in a thrash metal band called Revenant.[4][5] Incantation first came to prominence with Onward to Golgotha and Mortal Throne of Nazarene, both of which feature Craig Pillard on vocals. Following the release of the Forsaken Mourning of Angelic Anguish EP in 1997, Pillard departed the band and was replaced by Daniel Corchado of The Chasm. Corchado performed on 1998's Diabolical Conquest before leaving the band, and vocalist Mike Saez performed on the two following albums, The Infernal Storm (2000) and Blasphemy (2002). Since Decimate Christendom, McEntee took on vocal responsibilities, a role that he continues to the present.[citation needed]
After leaving Incantation, former vocalist Craig Pillard joined New Jersey death metal act Disma in 2008, from which he was fired in 2019 due to allegations of Nazi sympathies.[6] The members of Incantation defended themselves after coming under fire due to their prior association with him, affirming they had no knowledge of his political leanings until two years after he had left the band.[7]
Style, influences and legacy
Thom Jurek of AllMusic described Incantation's sound as "ferocious" and "mercilessly brutal", and categorized the band's style as a fusion of death metal, black metal, and grindcore. He added that the band utilizes "punishing" guitar riffs and "widely varying tempos".[8] Incantation has also been noted for elements of doom metal present in their music.[9][10] The band often employs slow and down-tuned passages, similar to the death-doom style of bands like Autopsy.[3] In an interview with Revolver, guitarist and vocalist John McEntee said "We always said that the riff itself isn’t important, it’s the feeling you get when you hear the riff".[11]
Incantation are considered to be highly influential on a range of later death metal bands including Dead Congregation, Grave Miasma, and Portal, who are often described as "cavernous death metal".[3]
Band members
Current
John McEntee – lead guitar (1989–2008, 2019–2020), rhythm guitar (1990, 1994–1999, 2002–present), vocals (2002–present)
^"Incantation – "Onward to Golgotha"". By 1989, John McEntee was growing increasingly disenchanted with his membership in technical thrash band Revenant. With the aid of Revenant drummer Paul Ledney, McEntee set out to pursue his own brand of blackened death metal, christening it Incantation.
^"Incantation – "Onward to Golgotha"". Enter Incantation's Onward to Golgotha, 42 pounding minutes of swarming guitars, blasting darkness and crushing doom
