Incantation (American band)

Incantation
Incantation
	Incantation performing in 2019
Background information
Origin	Fairlawn, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Death metal, death-doom, blackened death metal, doom metal
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Seraphic Decay; Relapse; Necropolis; Listenable; Ibex Moon;
Members	John McEntee; Chuck Sherwood; Kyle Severn; Luke Shively
Website	incantation.com

Incantation is an American death metal band formed by John McEntee and Paul Ledney in 1989. Despite the band's members currently residing in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Incantation are considered leaders in the New York City death metal scene along with Suffocation, Mortician and Immolation.

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]

History

The band has seen many lineup changes in their 35-year history. Guitarist/vocalist McEntee is the sole founding member, though drummer Kyle Severn has appeared on every studio album since their third full-length, Diabolical Conquest. 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.

Style 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".^[4] Incantation has also been noted for elements of doom metal present in their music.^[5]^[6] The band often employs slow and down-tuned passages, similar to the death-doom style of bands like Autopsy.^[3] Incantation's lyrical content frequently draws on anti-Christian, Satanic, and occult themes.^[3]

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)
Kyle Severn – drums (1994–1998, 2000–2007, 2009–present)
Chuck Sherwood – bass (2008–present)
Luke Shively – lead guitar (2020–present)

Former members

Brett Makowski – rhythm guitar (1989–1990)
Aragon Amori – bass (1989–1990; died 1996)
Paul Ledney – drums, vocals (1989–1990)
Sal Seijo – drums (1990)
Peter Barnevic – drums (1990)
Will Rahmer – vocals (1990)
Ronnie Deo – bass (1990–1992; died 2022)
Jim Roe – drums (1990–1993, 2007–2008)
Craig Pillard – vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–1994)
Dan Kamp – bass (1993)
Daniel Corchado – bass, vocals (1995–1998)
Rob Yench – bass (1998–2001)
Mike Saez – vocals, rhythm guitar (1998–2002)
Joe Lombard – bass (2001–2006; died 2012)
Alex Bouks – lead guitar (2008–2014)
Sonny Lombardozzi – lead guitar (2014–2019), rhythm and lead guitar (touring 2003)

Live musicians

Bill Venner – rhythm and lead guitar (1990)
Dave Niedrist – bass (1993–1994)
Randy Scott – bass (1994)
Duane Morris – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (1994–1995)
Mike Donnelly – bass (1995)
Mary Ciullo – bass (1996)
Nathan Rossi – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (1996)
Kevin Hughes – bass (1996–1997)
Clay Lytle – drums (1998)
Tom Stevens – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–1999)
Rick Boast – drums (1999)
Richard Christy – drums (2000)
Bill "Belial" Koblak – vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (2002)
Vincent Crowley – vocals (2002)
Rigel Walshe – bass (2006)
Roberto Lizárraga – bass (2006–2009)
Reyash – bass (2007, 2014)
Jacob Shively – bass (2015)
Luke Shively – bass (2015-2020)
Dan Grainger – drums (2018)
Charlie Koryn - drums (2019 - present)
Scott Pivarnick – bass (2022)
Dan Vadim Von - bass (2022 - 2023)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

XXV (2016)
Unholy Massacre (2016)
Tricennial of Blasphemy (2022)

Rough Mix albums

Upon the Throne of Apocalypse (1995)
Blasphemous Cremation (2008)

EPs

Entrantment of Evil (1990)
Deliverance of Horrific Prophecies (1991)
The Forsaken Mourning of Angelic Anguish (1997)
Blasphemous Cremation (2008)

Singles

"Thieves of the Cloth" (2006)
"Scapegoat" (2010)
"Degeneration" (2012)

Splits

Relapse Singles Series Vol.1 (2002)
Relapse Singles Series Vol.3 (2004)
Afterparty Massacre (2011)
Reh & Live 1990 / Jesus Spawn (2013)

Live albums

Tribute to the Goat (1997)
Live Blasphemy in Brazil Tour 2001 (2001)
Rotting Spiritual Embodiment (2017)

References

^ "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
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Grave Upheaval: have we reached peak murkiness?". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
^ "Incantation Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
^ DiVita, Joe DiVitaJoe (November 7, 2017). "15 Sick Death Metal Albums That Turned 25 in 2017". Loudwire. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
^ Magazine, Decibel (February 17, 2009). "Incantation - "Onward to Golgotha"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2024.

Bibliography

Purcell, Natalie J. (2003). Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-1585-4.

External links

[1] "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.

[2] "Incantation – "Onward to Golgotha"". Enter Incantation's Onward to Golgotha, 42 pounding minutes of swarming guitars, blasting darkness and crushing doom

[:0-3] "Grave Upheaval: have we reached peak murkiness?". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved August 19, 2017.

[4] "Incantation Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.

[5] DiVita, Joe DiVitaJoe (November 7, 2017). "15 Sick Death Metal Albums That Turned 25 in 2017". Loudwire. Retrieved December 27, 2024.

[6] Magazine, Decibel (February 17, 2009). "Incantation - "Onward to Golgotha"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2024.

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v t e Incantation
John McEntee Chuck Sherwood Kyle Severn Luke Shively Brett Makowski Aragon Amori Paul Ledney Sal Seijo Bill Venner Peter Barnevic Will Rahmer Craig Pillard Ronnie Deo Jim Roe Dan Kamp Mike Saez Kevin Hughes Daniel Corchado Rob Yench Mike Saez Joe Lombard Alex Bouks
Studio albums	Onward to Golgotha (1992) Mortal Throne of Nazarene (1994) Diabolical Conquest (1998) The Infernal Storm (2000) Blasphemy (2002) Decimate Christendom (2004) Primordial Domination (2006) Vanquish in Vengeance (2012) Dirges of Elysium (2014) Profane Nexus (2017) Sect of Vile Divinities (2020)

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF 2
National	United States France BnF data Poland
Artists	MusicBrainz