I think I bought this in 2005 when I found it for like seven bucks used at FYE (of all places, oh noes!). At first it got a handful of listens, but since nothing particular grabbed me it sat in a pile for a few years, only getting an occasional listen. In the last year or two, however, it’s found consistent play in my CD player, on my computer, and on my iPod.
Using this album as an example, Incantation is a perfect name for this band. I used to listen to it while driving and didn’t find it particularly interesting, but when sitting idly around the house or (I kid you not) before I go to sleep, it puts me in a trance-like state. It’s heavy, without a doubt, pretty percussive, but not as “brutal” as other bands from the locale and time, such as Suffocation. (Incantation and Immolation are quite similar, though, and one of my metal-listening friends thought this was Immolation several times.) I’ve read that some think there is a doom metal quality to Incantation’s music, and while I don’t think that says much in terms of what it sounds like, I don’t disagree. The slow parts are definitely not doom metal–slow, but this isn’t a (constant) mile-a-minute blastathon either.
In fact, this is the kind of music one should think of when they think of death metal. I can imagine this as the soundtrack to Hell, making this exactly the music your parents raised you to avoid. The slight melodic qualities of this album and the use of many different tempos create sections that are very memorable—sometimes I’ll have just a few riffs stuck in my head for an entire day until I can play it to ease my mind. The riffing is good, too: technical and interesting without going into “riff salad” territory. The vocals are low, but not indecipherable. To some the song titles and lyrics might be a little cheese, but they’re part of what make this definitive Hell music as far as I’m concerned. It’s the tale of expanding the borders of Hell.
I wouldn’t say Diabolical Conquest offers up anything groundbreaking or even spectacular, but it stays true to form and with it Incantation stay true to their name. If you don’t like death metal you might not like this album because it is death metal, but it’s possible you might due to what I find to be an interesting take on the genre. Songs vary from pretty straight-forward 3-5 minute evil chants, a 2 minute, calm interlude in the middle titled “Unheavenly Skies,” and an almost 17 minute journey that displays everything this album is capable of at the end.
Recommended if: you like other NYDM bands, are a casual death metal listener, into the occult, or you want to make your religious parents schedule an exorcism because they think you’re conducting a seance.
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