Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Alright, ya got me!, March 23, 2005
I've NEVER been an incantation fan until i heard this, in fact if you asked me what i thought of them 3 months ago i would have told you that they sucked, but thats behind us now so without further hesitation i will get onto the review:
decimate chritstendom is filled with brutal droning riffs and lightning fast blast beats amongst guttural vocals that sound as if they were recorded underwater or something like that, i always had a gripe with these guys for doing piss-poor production and sound quality, and this album is no different. But in a way the sound fits the harshness and rawness of the bands performane on a side note, if you listen carefully you can detect screw ups here and there that the band make. It is very hipocritical on my part to immediately dismiss anything these guys put out because a friend told me that this cd sounds like Blasphemy so i will check that out too. The songs on here are powerful and full of conviction, the other thing you have to get used to is the doom sections. If you're like me then you definately enjoy groove here and there and this album serves it up in spades, the doom sections also add a fullness and dynamic effect that i like to hear in death metal. This album rips and if you hate incantation, then take a listen to this...it might change your opinion of them.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I SECOND THE MOTION, November 6, 2004
Decimate Christendom: A brutal, musical call for action and a declaration of war against the bible thumping morons that infest this world. This album is by far the cleanest Incantation album I've ever heard. The distortion is toned down considerably and the drumming is all real (no triggers). Not only is the music cleaner and more discernable, but they drive the grooves into the ground much like their infernal brothers Immolation. The music oscillates between slow, old school crunch and breakneck speed. If you're a serious fan of Satanic Death Metal, and you might be having second thoughts about attending church, pop this one into the box to help strengthen your resolve. RAISE THE HORNS!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A return-to-form for these death metal masters, December 29, 2005
Incantation are, by far, one of the hardest working death metal bands in existence. Enduring nearly a decade of near-cult obscurity and legendary lineup changes, Incantation founder/frontman John McEntee found relative stability after Incantation's initial four releases (Onward to Golgotha, Mortal Throne of the Nazarene, Upon the Throne of the Apocalypse, and The Forsaken Mourning of Angelic Anguish) with Diabolical Conquest. It was here that Incantation fully arrived in the hearts and minds of deathheads the world over, and established an even more rabid fanbase with the relentless touring that followed. Subsequent releases The Infernal Storm and Blasphemy solidified Incantation's place among its peers. Now, in 2004, we see Incantation (John McEntee - guitar/vocals, Joe Lombard - bass, and Kyle Severn - drums) taking some of the boldest steps in their career with Decimate Christendom.
Decimate Christendom was recorded at Bill Korecky's Mars Recording Compound in Cleveland, Ohio. Korecky clearly has Incantation's sound captured perfectly, as each successive recording they release from that studio sounds better and better (it's no wonder John won't record anywhere else). This is a very thick, yet clean and crisp, recording. Nothing is lost in the production whatsoever. The songwriting is dynamic and tight, an Incantation trademark. Lyric writing is slightly more evenly distributed amongst the band this time, to great effect. John's vocals leave nothing to be desired, as he is able to emulate the best moments of former vocalists Craig Pillard, Dan Corchado , and Mike Saez (and then some) at once. The packaging is top notch, with great artwork by Miran Kim. The back cover has a fine group photo of the guys, and, and I can't publish this without making public my jealousy of John's Sinister long sleeve (I have "Diabolical Summoning" tattooed, but I still want the shirt, dangit!). *clears throat* Overall, the band sounds rejuvenated, and ready to conquer!
The first track is, of course, "Decimate Christendom". This title track is the one that Incantation posted on their website to show off the "new" sound of Incantation with John's vocals. "Decimate Christendom" harkens to a mix of "Impending Diabolical Conquest" and "Blasphemy" from earlier efforts, especially at the breakdown from 1:02-2:06. The doom that follows up 2:37 until is classic old-school Incantation. Kyle is in fine form all the way through this one. "Dying Divinity" is the first new track proper, as most of us had heard the title track repeatedly prior to the CD's release. There's almost a grind feeling in the bridge/chorus (0:59-1:27), where John shows his old-school roots. At 1:59, we hear the standard Incantation windmill riffage. "Oath of Armageddon" starts off meaty and midpaced, at times, reminding this writer of Kyle and John's other project, Funerus. At 1:44, there's a great bridge into the dirge of a sludgy fast part. This has got to be one of most moshable Incantation songs in history. I love the way the end riff morphs at 4:19, and back at 4:44. "Blaspheme the Sacraments", number four, starts off blazing, the seeming antithesis of the previous track. 0:12-0:22 represents one of the most memorable and melodic riffs on the disc. At 3:11, Kyle pummels the drumkit with a jackhammer rhythm that will surely get kids moving on the road. 4:18 presents a major surprise of a bridge, spiraling down in to the void at 4:35. One last thing about this song: It represents the still aggressive nature of the band, proof that they are not just going through the motions on this one. "Merciless Tyranny" starts off with an awkward old school cruiser riff, a la Massacre. At 1:49, Incantation go grind on me again, and bring some unexpected ultra-technical syncopation from 1:58-2:26. Number six (66) is "Horns of Eradication". A slow-to-mid paced tune, this one gets the doom rolling. John & company do not disappoint, and pull some classic Incantation dirge from 1:06-1:43. At 3:32, we get a dissonant treat of a break, wrapping up this one. Next up is "Unholy Empowerment Of Righteous Deprivation" (it just figures that the title of the shortest track on the disc requires an entire breath just to say... but, hey, it's Incantation). The continuation of the dissonant, hollow echo from the end of "Horns of Eradication" leads us directly into "Thorns of Everlasting Persecution". This song most reminds of the finer moments of Blasphemy (0:16-0:29). At 0:51, the song breaks into a stomping riff, only to crash down into doom territory at 1:13. We get the stomp back at 1:35, right up until 1:53, where things slow down again. Most of this song is devoid of vocals, leaving the music room to breathe. It seems that John finally has the vocal style he's wanted all these years (sometimes you have to do it yourself, you know? Power to him.). Number nine brings us to "No Paradise Awaits". This song is the most faithful to the older Incantation sound (0:39-1:17). This is easily one of the top three best songs on the disc. At 1:55, some of the updated Incantation riffage makes a brief appearance until 2:26. From 2:36-2:54, Incantation busts out one of the coolest passages this side of Diabolical Conquest. At 3:56, the boys lead back into a midpaced riff, and then speed it up as only they can. Suddenly the song stops, leaving only Joe's ominous bass sound to express itself, blending seamlessly into "Eternal Darkness Under Conquered Skies". This reprise of "No Paradise Awaits" serves as a great lead-in to the final track, "Feeble Existence". As "Feeble Existence" fades in, Joe's bass takes over the wheel until 0:42, when things come to a near standstill of doom. Out of nowhere, at 1:03, Incantation shows off their ability to mood swing a death metal song like a morphine addict in withdrawal. The Evil Chuck tribute from 1:48-2:10 is by far my favorite riff on the disc (Ok, it sounds more like the refrain from "Blasphemy" than it does any of Schuldiner's early works, but I can tell influence when I hear it, dangit!). We are brought back to Incantation trademark windmills at 3:06, leading back to that riff (3:28-3:39). Suddenly, all stops for a split second, and we are brought into a maelstrom of an Incantation march riff, taking us straight to war (3:40-4:36). From 4:37 until the end of the song, I hear something I am not sure I have ever heard on an Incantation CD, ever- a noise solo! Wow.
Decimate Christendom is a triumph for Incantation. They have lost none of their drive, passion, or ferocity. They sure as heck aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so you might as well come along for the ride. Of course, the only way to experience Incantation is live, so, get out there and support these death metal kings!
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