Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race

An excessively long review title for comedic effect (It isn't funny).

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on June 23rd 2022) 

Yes, yes, I know, another review for Blood Incantation’s Hidden History of the Human Race. I’m sure everyone’s absolutely thrilled to see me write a review about what is arguably the most popular extreme metal album of the last decade. In any case, I feel compelled to add my two cents to the conversation surrounding it, especially considering how the hype around it has long since died down and we can look at it with a more inquisitive perspective.

I ought to kick things off with a disclaimer and admit that the attention the band has garnered with this release is fully deserved. They really did manage to make a very expansive and unique project that’s worth a listen by any metal fan, especially those into spacey death metal à la Timeghoul and The Chasm. That being said, the splash Hidden History… made outside of the underground thanks to outlets like Pitchfork covering it wasn’t without consequence. Genre tourists who weren’t acquainted with death metal as a whole ended up praising the album as the greatest thing to come out of the genre, while at the same time dismissing the rest of it as artless garbage not worth one’s time. This led to some people being disappointed due to the overwhelming hype that it had behind it thanks to the reaction of the general public, resulting in a rather divisive release. Which is a shame, because when you remove it from the shitstorm it kicked up on release, it’s actually a great piece of music with a lot to like about it.

Hidden History… sees Blood Incantation change things up compared to its predecessor, Starspawn. The band here has taken a different direction in terms of how they approach songwriting, using intricate leadwork to instil their desired spacey atmosphere, contrary to the dense and cosmic horror-esque feel of the debut. Throughout the record’s 36-minute runtime, we’re being graced with fretwork that despite its virtuosity never devolves into wankery, with every floating note adding to the music’s cosmic feel. From whammy divebombs to more involved and long-winded solos, everything feels meticulously put together and focused on taking the listener on a journey through space. The smooth licks and wails found on the opener, “Slave Species of the Gods”, and the melting leads on “The Giza Power Plant”, the latter of which also features an unexpected Eastern-influenced break, are just stunning, not only in isolation, but also as parts of the whole.

With how much I’ve talked about the atmospherics of this album (don’t worry, there’s more to come), you’d think that this it’s absolutely bereft of noteworthy riffs, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Blood Incantation has a wide array of influences, but the way they’re mixed and matched together results in something that feels much fresher than what it might seem at first glance. There is no shortage of raging riffs that bring to mind Morbid Angel, a more traditional counterpoint to disjointed mid-tempo riffs that bring to mind other “weird death metal” greats like the aforementioned Timeghoul and Demilich. All that is combined in a natural manner, leading to music that flows smoothly from one point without feeling lost, or giving the impression that it meanders (for the most part).

What I found to be the glue that keeps some of these parts together in a tidy manner is the ambient sections. Believe me, I was quite surprised when I found an extreme metal album in which the ambience felt well-placed and wasn’t an attempt at kneecapping the pacing. In retrospect, all of the spacey non-metal stuff presented here feels like an obvious hint towards this year’s Timewave Zero, a project that I sadly didn’t find myself caring for all that much. While these parts serve as transitions between passages to an extent, they didn’t put any less effort than they did on the rest of the compositions here. The most notable case of this is the track “Inner Paths (To Outer Space)”, a 5-and-a-half-minute instrumental jam session that is brimming with psychedelia, yet somehow doesn’t feel out of place or unnecessary. It’s a much needed palate cleanser and prelude to Hidden History…’s final song.

And what a song it is. It has a comically long song title to match its length, and it somehow makes its 18-minute runtime worth it. It’s a death metal epic the likes of which I haven’t heard in a long time. Blood Incantation manages to combine everything we’d seen up to that point and provide what is arguably the highlight of the experience. It really just has it all: dense grooves, sweeping leads, raging riffs, dreamy ambience, all combined in a package that could arguably make for an EP of its own. Upon first listen, it was a definite surprise to see that the final track was almost as long as everything that preceded it, but it feels much better paced than Starspawn, which went the opposite direction and opened with a daunting 13 minute song. Not that it was bad mind you, it’s just that it felt like a more lopsided and front-loaded project than Hidden History…. Meanwhile, “The Song With The Long Title” is appropriately placed as the climax of the album, serving as a grand and memorable note to end things on.

That being said, one of the few, if not the only thing that bothered me with this release is the production, more specifically the mixing. I don’t mind the fact that the recording is a bit cleaner, it really helps bring the most out of the leadwork and ambient parts, and it doesn’t take away from the instruments’ power either, but I can’t help but wish the bass was more prevalent. There are some really sweet floating basslines throughout that are a bit too quiet and can only be heard during some of the slower or more relaxed segments. A shame really, considering how it sounds really good, and could work great in tandem with the crunchy, dense guitars, and the driving drums.

Truth be told, revisiting Hidden History of the Human Race was one of the best things I’ve done recently. Being able to take it in removed from the buzz surrounding it and with another project right after it gave me a different perspective on it. Is it the world’s most original album? No, not really, I wouldn’t have cited 4 different bands had that been the case. Does it fall under the category of “Has influences but employs them in a manner that makes the music feel fresh”? Absolutely. Blood Incantation might not be the second coming of the (Anti)Christ that genre tourists and flannel-clad Pitchfork readers make them out to be, but they are undoubtedly a breath of fresh air. Do yourselves a favour and give it another shot in the year of our lord 2022, it definitely deserves it.

Highlights: Slave Species of the Gods, The Song With The Comically Long Title

Rating: 94%