# Incantation (American band)

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.
Guitarist and vocalist John McEntee is the sole founding member of Incantation, though drummer Kyle Severn has appeared on every studio album since their third full-length, Diabolical Conquest.

## History

Guitarist and vocalist John McEntee previously played in a thrash metal band called Revenant. 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.
After leaving Incantation, former vocalist Craig Pillard joined New Jersey death metal act Disma in 2008, from which he was fired in 2019 due to allegations of Nazi sympathies. The members of Incantation defended themselves after coming under fire due to their prior association with him, affirming they had no knowledge of his political leanings until two years after he had left the band.

## Style, influences 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". Incantation has also been noted for elements of doom metal present in their music. The band often employs slow and down-tuned passages, similar to the death-doom style of bands like Autopsy. In an interview with Revolver, guitarist and vocalist John McEntee said "We always said that the riff itself isn’t important, it’s the feeling you get when you hear the riff".
Incantation's lyrical content frequently draws on anti-Christian, Satanic, and occult themes.
The band has cited Necrophagia, Possessed, Destruction, Sepultura, Kreator and Sarcófago as influences.
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".

## Band members

Timeline

## Discography
### 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)
* Unholy Deification (2023)

### 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)