Incantation (American band)

Incantation
Incantation performing in 2019
Background information
OriginFairlawn, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Years active1989–present
Labels
Spinoffs
MembersJohn McEntee
Chuck Sherwood
Kyle Severn
Luke Shively
Past membersPast members
Websiteincantation.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.[4]

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

Incantation was formed in August 1989 by Paul Ledney (drums and vocals), Aragon Amori (bass), Brett Makowski (rhythm guitar) and John McEntee (lead guitar).[5] McEntee previously played in a thrash metal band called Revenant.[6][7] In 1990, disagreements in the band over whether to incorporate black metal elements, corpse paint and blasphemous lyrics led Ledney, Amori and Makowski to depart from the band, instead forming black metal Profanatica.[5]

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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[6]

In February 2016, Incanation toured the US with Swedish black metal band Marduk.[10] They would tour with Marduk again the following year, bringing along American death metal band Abysmal Dawn.[11] In 2019, Incantation supported Morbid Angel on tour in the US along with Swesish black metal band Watain.[12]

Incantation performed at Milwaukee Metal Fest in June 2024.[13] The band supported Belphegor on their US tour in the winter of 2026 along with Hate and Narcotic Waste.[14] During this tour, they stated that they stated that they did not always have access to food. Fans of the band donated dry goods and nonperishable food to the band, though the band would in turn donate this to food drives for those less fortunate than them.[15] In March, they co-headlined the first Shamrock Slaughter festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana with Sanguisugabogg.[16] They are scheduled to return to Milwaukee Metal Fest in June 2026.[17]

Musical style and influences

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."[18] Incantation has also been noted for elements of doom metal present in their music.[19][20] The band often employs slow and down-tuned passages, similar to the death-doom style of bands like Autopsy.[4] Additionally, the many of the band's riffs use string bending and pinch harmonics to attack single-string melody lines, drawing comparisons to Immolation.[21] 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."[6]

Incantation's lyrical content frequently draws on anti-Christian, Satanic, and occult themes.[4]

The band has cited Venom, Possessed, Destruction, Sepultura, Celtic Frost, Kreator, Sarcófago, Necrovore, Necrophagia and Master as influences.[6][21]

Legacy

Incantation are considered leaders in the New York City death metal scene along with Suffocation, Mortician and Immolation. Incantation are also 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."[4]

In 2017, Vice wrote: "In a genre that values loyalty to principle and a dedication to extremity, Incantation might be the truest death metal band on the planet."[22]

Frontman John McEntee spoke of the band's influence in a 2023 interview with New Noise Magazine: "We really wanted to push the limits of death metal at a time when I didn’t realize that, one day, it would be its own thing. I just always thought it would just be kind of us doing us, you know? And now I hear other bands; they really capture that style that we play, especially early on. And it’s super cool to hear that."[23]

Band members

Main article: List of Incantation (American band) members

Current official members

  • John McEntee — lead and rhythm guitars (1989–present), vocals (2003–present)
  • Kyle Severn — drums (1994–1998, 2000–2007, 2009–present)
  • Chuck Sherwood — bass (2008–present; not touring since 2015)
  • Luke Shively — lead and rhythm guitars (2019–present), bass (2015–2019, touring only)

Former official members

  • Paul Ledney — vocals, drums (1989–1990)
  • Brett Makowski — rhythm guitar (1989–1990)
  • Aragon Amori — bass (1989–1990; died 1996)
  • Ronnie Deo — bass (1990–1992; died 2022)
  • Will Rahmer — vocals (1990, 1995–1996)
  • Sal Seijo — rhythm guitar (1990)
  • Peter Barnevic — drums (1990)
  • Jim Roe — drums (1990–1993, 1994, 2007–2008)
  • Bill Venner — rhythm guitar (1990)
  • Craig Pillard — vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–1994, 1997, 2008)
  • Dan Kamp — bass (1992–1993)
  • Dave Niedrist — bass (1993–1994)
  • John Brody — drums (1993–1994)
  • Duane Morris — vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–1995)
  • Randy Scott — bass (1994)
  • Mike Donnelly — bass (1995)
  • Daniel Corchado — vocals (1995, 1997–1998), rhythm guitar (1995), bass (1997–1998)
  • Mike Saez — rhythm guitar (1995–1996, 1997, 1999–2001), vocals (1999–2001)
  • Mary Ciullo — bass (1995–1996)
  • Kevin Hughes — bass (1996–1997)
  • Nathan Rossi — vocals, rhythm guitar (1996; died 2024)
  • Rob Yench — bass (1997–2001)
  • Tom Stevens — vocals, rhythm guitar (1998–1999)
  • Clay Lytle — drums (1998)
  • Rick "Slim" Boast — drums (1999)
  • Joe "Fingers" Lombard — bass (2001–2006; died 2012)
  • Lou "Sonny" Lombardozzi — lead and rhythm guitars (2003, 2014–2019)
  • Alex Bouks — bass (2007), lead and rhythm guitars (2008–2014)

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

  1. ^ DiVita, Joe DiVitaJoe (November 7, 2017). "15 Sick Death Metal Albums That Turned 25 in 2017". Loudwire.com. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  2. ^ "Incantation – "Onward to Golgotha"". Enter Incantation's Onward to Golgotha, 42 pounding minutes of swarming guitars, blasting darkness and crushing doom
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ a b c d "Grave Upheaval: have we reached peak murkiness?". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "PROFANATICA". Voicesfromthedarkside.de. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d Pessaro, Fred. "Incantation on Humble Beginnings and Nazi Sympathizing Allegations". Revolver. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Magazine, Decibel (February 17, 2009). "Incantation - "Onward to Golgotha"". Decibelmagazine.com. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Incantation Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  9. ^ "DISMA Part Ways With Vocalist Craig Pillard | Comments". lambgoat.com. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Schafer, Joseph. "Tour Dates: Incantation, Marduk". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  11. ^ "Marduk Announce 2017 North American Tour With Incantation + Abysmal Dawn". Loudwire. June 21, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  12. ^ Hartmann, Graham HartmannGraham (August 26, 2019). "Morbid Angel Announce U.S. Tour With Watain + Incantation". Loudwire. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  13. ^ Hatfield, Amanda. "Milwaukee Metal Fest reveals final 2024 lineup & preshow details". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  14. ^ https://exclaim.ca/music/article/belphegor-incantation-hate-join-forces-for-2026-north-american-tour
  15. ^ "INCANTATION To Include A New Food Drive Initiative During Their North American Tour". Metal Injection. February 28, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  16. ^ "INCANTATION & SANGUISUGABOGG To Headline Shamrock Slaughter Festival Next Friday". Metal Injection. March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (January 29, 2025). "Milwaukee Metal Fest 2026 Lineup: Acid Bath, Killswitch Engage, Ministry". Consequence. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  18. ^ "Incantation Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  19. ^ DiVita, Joe (November 7, 2017). "15 Sick Death Metal Albums That Turned 25 in 2017". Loudwire. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  20. ^ Magazine, Decibel (February 17, 2009). "Incantation - "Onward to Golgotha"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Staff, Invisible Oranges. "Interview: Incantation". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  22. ^ Krovatin, Chris (August 17, 2017). "Rank Your Records: Incantation's John McEntee Relives Nine Albums Worth of Death Metal Madness". VICE. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ^ "Interview: Incantation on 30 Years of Brutality and Then Some". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2025.

Bibliography

  • Purcell, Natalie J. (2003). Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-1585-4.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Incantation (band).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.