INVOCATION

INVOCATION     “The Archaic Sanctuary” (Ritual Body Postures)

By Dr. Abner Mality

Lots of bands named INVOCATION over the years. This one hails from the metal hotbed of Chile and is well worth looking into if you like murky, swampy death metal with an intellectual edge. This album practically flies by, yet is packed with more riffs than Chicago has murders. It is deceptively simple on the surface, but INVOCATION’s songwriting is more sophisticated than the surface would indicate.

The record does have that “cavernous” production which is cryptic and claustrophobic, but the songwriting does not follow the standard pattern of most “cavernous” bands. The pace is fast and there is a constant barrage of changing riffs. IMMOLATION is not a bad comparison, nor is POSSESSED. The songs are short, but packed with killer hooks.  Some of my favorites can be found in “The Serpent of Faardal” and “Metamorphosis”, but it’s the final two tracks “The Venus of Laussel” and “Hypnosis” that push this album over the top. Incredibly dark and morbid riffing yet extremely catchy and easy to get into at the same time. That’s a combination to be savored.

INVOCATION’s lyrical focus also seems to be a bit more advanced than usual, dwelling on mysticism and mysteries of the human mind. In many ways, the band reminds me of another long-lost name from Chile’s metal past, HADES ARCHER. If you remember them, you need to get this. Come to think of it, you need to get this even if you’ve never heard of them before.

IRON BONEHEAD RECORDS 

INVOCATION