Invocation - The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures)

Angry Metal Guy

Chile has given us some great records in recent years, with Mayhemic’s Toba and Inanna’s Void of Unending Depths being two notable examples of fantastic albums that have earned a spot in my collection. Thus, when I saw a new Chilean black-death metal band were releasing their debut album via Iron Bonehead Productions—the ever-reliable purveyors of all that is raw and trve—my interest was piqued. With their previous demo and two EPs, Invocation showcased a dark and atmospheric style that earned them comparisons to the musty music of Grave Miasma. Now nine years since their formation, this trio are truly coming into their own with their first proper album, The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures).

When I first listened to Invocation, they sounded quite a bit different than I expected. Whereas Grave Miasma conjure an archaic atmosphere with extended groaning tremolos, Invocation maintain a similar vibe with a more immediate approach. Upon hitting play on opener “Ecstatic Trance,” the onslaught of riffs begins and—for the next 34 minutes—never truly ceases. These riffs gyrate and jab, moving deftly and sometimes violently, at times escalating into layered chords or suggestions of emotive melody, but never acting without purpose. The album has a restlessness about it, and that feeling is only furthered by the drumming. Contrary to what one might expect, the tempos never approach anything remotely doomy, instead shifting fluidly between blast beats and confident mid-paced rhythms. Sometimes these rhythms are even the highlights themselves, as with the snappy beat that helps make “Metamorphosis” one of the catchiest tracks on the record.

Given that these eight tracks average four minutes, the sheer quantity of riffs here could have easily made this album a mess. Instead, the band’s compositional maturity helps these songs stay focused and captivating. Each track progresses naturally and fluidly from one great moment to the next, giving each riff its time in the light yet rarely lingering on one idea for too long. Invocation have a brevity not often embraced by their peers, with many of these songs feeling like eight-minute epics that were trimmed tighter and tighter without ever losing their inherent sense of mystery. Yet while the band love crafting nooks and crannies within these songs, the tracks often return to a core idea, keeping them anchored and helping them stand on their own. Penultimate track “Venus of Laussel,” for instance, stands out with a big and terrific main riff that sounds like temple walls being forcefully rearranged by some immense subterranean creature.

Other aspects of the band’s sound are equally notable. Guitarist “Sense of Premonition” also serves as the band’s vocalist, and he delivers a manic and guttural holler that sounds like he’s striving as hard as possible to keep his inner madman under control. The approach is a perfect fit for the band’s lyrical themes, which center on “ancestral techniques of self-hypnosis and possession.” Yet ultimately, the guitars and drumming are the real standouts here. From the wailing grandeur of “Opium Tebiacum (Somniferum)” to the ascending tremolos of closer “Hypnosis” to the more measured approach of “The Serpent of Faardal,” Sense of Premonition consistently delivers one great idea after another, skillfully navigating his fretboard as the guitars contort in ever-interesting ways. Drummer “Sense of Clairaudience” likewise feels both tight and utterly natural with his smooth and dynamic performance. The production is also fantastic. Everything has plenty of space to breathe, and yet the riffs still hit hard enough to leave a mark.

Simply put, The Archaic Sanctuary is a triumph. From the compositions to the performances to the atmosphere, this is the rare album that excels in almost every way. The band’s knack for combining a musty ambiance with restless riffing reminds me of Throneum or Mystifier, yet Invocation just feel a notch above both them and almost everything else in the style. Here, the riffs are stronger, the songs are more focused, and the overall effect is simply captivating. As a result, The Archaic Sanctuary is a record I’d heartily recommend to any fan of extreme metal, regardless of how often you tread the types of shadowy underworlds that this record creates. For me, Invocation is a band to watch, and this is an album I’ll be revisiting for a long time to come.



Rating: 4.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Iron Bonehead Productions
Websites: invocationtemple.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/invocationchile
Releases Worldwide: September 20th, 2024

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