Denver-based progressive death metal band Blood Incantation has announced a string of North American performances this summer as part of their ongoing “Absolute Elsetour.” The tour kicks off with a highly anticipated, immersive concert at the subterranean venue The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, and includes other standout stops like Chicago’s Bohemian National Cemetery and a pair of appearances at Fire in the Mountains Festival in Montana. The trek winds through the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and concludes in Los Angeles at The Wiltern. Along the way, Blood Incantation will be joined by special guests including Steve Roach, Cynic, Pallbearer, and Krallice.
The tour supports Blood Incantation’s most recent and critically acclaimed album, Absolute Elsewhere, which continues to draw praise for its innovative fusion of death metal, krautrock, and progressive rock. Critics have called it “the metal album of the year” (NPR) and hailed its boundary-pushing artistry. TIME Magazine placed it at #7 in their Albums of the Year list, and Pitchfork recognized it as Best New Music, describing it as a “galactic” blend of death metal’s fury and krautrock’s surreal textures. The album also topped Consequence’s list of Best Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 2024 and was lauded by Rolling Stone, Associated Press, The Wire, and numerous others.
Absolute Elsewhere is a two-part, nearly 45-minute cosmic journey that defies genre convention. Side One, titled “The Stargate,” features collaborations with Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning and layers violent riffs with atmospheric synths and Mellotron. It mixes ancient themes with modern sonic textures, while Side Two, “The Message,” shifts into a metaphysical soundscape blending jazz, psych, and metal elements. Nicklas Malmqvist (Hällas) and Malte Gericke (Sijjin, ex-Necros Christos) contribute synths and vocals, adding further dimension to the album’s celestial tone.
Recorded at the legendary Hansa Tonstudios in Berlin, the album carries the spirit of the city’s rich progressive music legacy. The studio, once used by the likes of Tangerine Dream and Brian Eno, imprinted its storied ambiance on the final product. Producer Arthur Rizk, known for his work with Power Trip and Spectral Voice, shaped the album’s powerful and atmospheric mix. Quaeschning’s synth work and Malmqvist’s textured arrangements deepen the album’s immersive feel, underscoring Blood Incantation’s evolution into a "genre of one."
Adding to the album’s visionary aesthetic is cover art by reclusive 1970s sci-fi painter Steve R. Dodd, which mirrors the cosmic scope of the music. Blood Incantation has always stretched the limits of extreme metal, but Absolute Elsewheresees them enter a new era of sound exploration. With this record, the band departs traditional genre tropes and ventures into uncharted sonic realms, delivering what critics call “a mind-blowing masterpiece” and “the ultimate Blood Incantation album.”
The tour’s full itinerary spans from July 12 to August 7, with international dates in October. Fans can expect a setlist that pulls from the band’s expansive catalog, including selections from their scene-shaping debut Starspawn (2016), the acclaimed Hidden History of the Human Race (2019), and of course, Absolute Elsewhere.
