Blood Incantation "Hidden History of the Human Race" Cassette

The first EP Interdimensional Instinction from 2015, both full lengths albums Starspawn (2016) and Hidden History Of The Human Race (2019, already released on tape by DSR in another version) and the last critically acclaimed ambient album Timewave Zero (2022) from US-based cosmic death metal travelers BLOOD INCANTATION finally back on limited (333 each) music cassette.

2019 has been quite a busy year for the death metal genre, and many of the genre's stalwarts and up-and-comers have released highly anticipated albums this year. Some of these releases, such as the new Tomb Mold, have lived up to the massive hype generated around them, while others just...didn't (looking at you, Gatecreeper). But none of these releases were quite as highly anticipated as the new Blood Incantation album. After hearing their wonderful 2016 release Starspawn, I was quite weary of whether the band could live up to the success of their previous incantation with Hidden History of the Human Race.
Not only did this record live up to my expectations set by their debut, it blew them out of the water.
Hidden History of the Human Race features a smorgasbord of winding, serpentine riffing that calls to mind early 90's technical death metal. Paul and Morris are both accomplished guitar players, as not a single riff or solo is wasted despite the record being crammed full of both. On the surface, one could simply write this album off as a Demilich or Nocturnus worship album from that description alone. But as we all know, Paul Riedl and co. are far more clever songwriters than to simply write a mere tribute album, as this release places just as much emphasis on painting a bleak, spacey atmosphere as it does technical proficiency. The tapestry of cosmic riffs and solos on display is interwoven with clean guitar licks that wouldn't sound out of place on a 70's psychedelic prog album, as well as tasteful use of doomy funeral dirges that place the listener in the depths of outer space itself. The analogue recording technique that was utilized to give this album a vintage style production is icing on the cosmic cake that further enhances the album's extraterrestrial atmosphere without taking away from the ferocity of the riffs.
The album wastes no time with opener "Slave Species of the Gods" blasting through the gates with its otherworldly riffing and wailing solos that echo from the abyss as if they were an alien horror. Album highlight "The Giza Power Plant" carries much of the previous track's intensity before venturing into a more progressive territory with a middle eastern interlude and an atmospheric outro that carries with it one of the best guitar solos on the record. "Instrumental track "Inner Paths (To Outer Space)" is where the band embraces the psychedelic side of their sound the most, serving as a breather after the complexity of the two previous tracks and the monolith of a song that follows. Speaking of which, the 18 minute long album closer "Awakening from the Dream of Existence to the Multidimensional Nature of Our Reality (Mirror of the Soul)" is an experience all of its own. A song of this length may intimidate some listeners, especially considering the style of death metal that Blood Incantation plays. Fortunately, not a second of this song is wasted on inappropriate filler and features some of the best riffs on the album.
With Hidden History of the Human Race, Blood Incantation have shown that highly anticipated albums sometimes do live up to the massive hype surrounding them, releasing one of the most engaging and forward thinking albums within the death metal genre. If you want a death metal album with superb songwriting that strives for more than simply worshiping at the altar of bands past, make this album a mandatory listen.

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