STARSPAWN

"Starspawn" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Colorado based death metal act Blood Incantation. The album was released through Dark Descent Records in August 2016. Blood Incantation formed in 2011 and released three demos before being signed for the release of the 2015 "Interdimensional Extinction" EP. There has been one lineup change since the EP as bassist Jeff Barrett has joined Blood Incantation, making them a quartet on "Starspawn".

Stylistically the material on the 5 tracks, 35:19 minutes long album is a continuation of the progressive and at times almost abtract death metal of the "Interdimensional Extinction" EP. This time just even more complex in structure and challenging on the ears of the listener. Although some riffs and ideas are repeated the tracks often feel like a long journey with new ideas and riffs constantly being introduced. Some tracks feature some atmospheric parts which are nice for the variation of the album, because otherwise this is a very busy and layered release, which is quite relentless in its approach. The fact that Blood Incantation rarely play any riffs which are of the more regular death metal kind, but instead focus on playing unconventional and often dissonant and twisted riffs and rhythms make "Starspawn" a difficult listen with very few hooks to hold on to.

...and that is my main critique when it comes to evaluating "Starspawn". It features a relatively well sounding gritty sound production and the musical performances are arguably through the roof (how can these guys even rememeber these tracks?), but it´s an album with little soul or death metal integrity. Take the vocals for instance, which are delivered without any punch or aggression. They are just there and barely get the job done. The tracks are also so complex in structure and the riffs and rhythms so tech nerdy that they leave little impact on the listener other than an interest in how the hell they are played or how they got the idea to compose them this way...so to my ears this is a musicians album and less an album for the regular death metal listener to enjoy.

When that is said "Starspawn" is still an intriguing album on some levels and it´s certainly a bold and adventurous death metal release showing a band who defy tradition and want to challenge the concept of death metal. I can relate to- and respect that, but on the other hand "Starspawn" just ultimately leaves me cold and it´s definitely not an album which incites headbanging and moshing. It´s way too nerdy and focused on something completely different that the primal energies of regular death metal. A 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).