Every so often, we’re treated to an act that truly does live up to the level of being considered esoteric. From virtually all angles, these creations are exceedingly distant from the mainstream for one reason or another as the musicians in question simply cannot find solace in riding the line of the typical with their material as it’s with the unique catharsis of the depths of the weird and the off that euphoria can only be found for them. When considering bands like Incantvm, it’s clear that some are seeking something so much more than a few simple riffs. Theatric, densely layered, and wildly talented, efforts like this are why “esoteric” still has more than enough application in the underground.

Should you find yourself any proper connoisseur of what the underground has to offer, it shouldn’t be long after you’ve dipped your toes into what Incantvm has to offer with its debut album that you should know precisely what kind of band this is. One that defies genrefication as much as it can with more than plenty of cues from all over the world of extreme metal with the worlds of black and doom metal particularly favored in the five tracks of “Strigae”, but in no way is that this only massive piece at play here. As the driving force of this creation is an orchestral arrangement that thematically matches the concepts of witch hunts and the crimes committed in the wake of such persecutions, this album is nothing if not overflowing in how rich it is in its instrumentation, execution, and undeniable prowess in virtually every aspect of its execution. From the haunting screeches to the engrossing piano to the compelling clarinets to the simplest use of acoustic guitar that backs up ferocious black metal, the very whole of “Strigae” is a grand performance that can certainly be likened to other contemporary bands out there in the obscure corners of the underground, but Incantvm manages to achieve a particular level of intoxication that much of their competition doesn’t open live up to on a regular basis. Mysterious right from the beginning, dark all the way to the very end, and undeniable in damn near every way, “Strigae” is not something to underestimate or simply swipe to the side.

This is the standard that any music that dares to call itself esoteric should hold itself up to. For, truly, this is a creation that only a few will be able to lose themselves in and properly connect with for all the different layers that are at play here and all that it dares to achieve in its runtime with naught but success to be found at every turn. “Strigae” is a wondrous effort that’s all the more compelling by being the debut from Incantvm, making this but the tip of the iceberg for what this name is capable of.

“Strigae” releases on November 18th via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Strigae” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Incantvm on Facebook here.