Nightfly What can you say about a new Incantation album that hasn’t already been said many times before? There’s no startling changes in direction, just Incantation doing what they do best. Ultimately then it boils down to is it any good and comparable in quality to their past work?

Sect Of Vile Divinities is studio album number twelve from these (originally) New York death metal giants. They’re located in Pennsylvania these days but it hasn’t made any difference to their style. I’m pleased to say it’s all still crushingly heavy old school death metal ranging from faster blast beat infused stuff to the expected slower doomier side. Their sound might not be quite as dirty as in the past but the riffs are still dark, packing plenty of punch. In fact the production is cleaner than you usually expect from Incantation. Some may see this as a problem but it does at least allow everything to cut through clearly. Apart from a couple of less than stellar albums Incantation have been pretty consistent for most of their career and Sect Of Vile Divinities is no exception. In fact I think it’s up a few notches on 2017’s Profane Nexus which had a couple of weaker moments. Not the case here, making it a compelling listen from start to finish bookended by two of the faster and strongest tracks - Ritual Impurity (Seven Of The Sky Is One) and Siege Hive.

The band play very well with some great guitar work from also vocalist and mainstay John McEntee and Sonny Lombardozzi. Luke Shively also supplies lead guitar and is now appears to be a full time member, replacing Lombardozzi. The drums and bass are still supplied by Kyle Severn and Chuck Sherwood respectively and they also do a great job, solid as a rock and inventive when required to be.

Classics like second album Mortal Throne Of Nazarene may remain perennial favourites amongst the bands fans but almost thirty years after their debut Onward To Golgotha, Incantation are still releasing high quality death metal. In fact Sect Of Vile Divinities is probably my favourite album to come from them in the last twenty years.