Denver, CO · death metal · progressive metal

Blood Incantation

1 festival played →

Denver death metal by way of Tangerine Dream — cosmic, patient, and the most critically adored band in the genre.

Blood Incantation formed in Denver, Colorado, in 2011, and settled into its long-running lineup of guitarist and vocalist Paul Riedl, drummer Isaac Faulk, guitarist Morris Kolontyrsky and bassist Jeff Barrett. The band's debut album, Starspawn, appeared on Dark Descent Records in 2016 and drew notice from Decibel and Stereogum, unusual attention for a death metal record of its kind.

The group's writing favors long, winding compositions rather than short blasts, with riffs that move between churning heaviness and drifting, atmospheric passages. Critics have described the result as psychedelic death metal, pairing the melodic reach of later Death records with the stranger tones of early-1990s Morbid Angel. Lyrics and artwork draw on science fiction, ancient astronaut theories and cosmic themes throughout.

Alongside its metal records, Blood Incantation has released material closer to ambient and synthesizer music, reflecting an interest in 1970s electronic records that runs parallel to its metal work. Live keyboardists have joined the band's touring lineup in recent years to help carry that side of the sound onstage.

The band has toured extensively, supporting Immolation in 2019, Obituary alongside Immolation and Ingrown in 2023, and Cannibal Corpse alongside Gorguts and Mayhem later that year. In 2025 it toured North America with Krallice, Pallbearer, Steve Roach and Cynic, and its live sets tend to favor extended pieces played more or less in full.

Read more

death metalprogressive metal