Artist: Entrancement
Country: USA
Label: Perverse Homage
Formats: Digital
Year: 2026
Sometimes a title says more than you can explain in a few words, but as you might have guessed, this is indeed a compilation of Entrancement’s first two demos. These were previously re-released by Goatowarex, though that was over five years ago and was only available on vinyl. Although both demos are now only made available digitally, knowing Perverse Homage, it’s likely that they might also be released on CDr at one point.
Even though I really can’t stand the most ridiculous format out there, it’s not a bad idea to make these demos available again. The album that followed, ‘Of Passion’s Cruelty’, released by Altare Productions and Perverse Homage, was one of the Black Metal highlights of 2023. But although the music itself is clearly recognizable as coming from the same band, these demos, which were originally released in 2018 and 2019, aren’t quite cut from the same cloth.
These demos also combine the best elements of bands like Odium, Diabolicum, and Limbonic Art with early Satyricon and Taake, as well as Burzum’s post-debut albums, but place greater emphasis on the mechanical nature and pounding drum machine. A stronger comparison with Limbonic Art is therefore obvious. The slightly more organic balance of ‘Of Passion’s Cruelty’ is not yet present here, but the screeching vocals and the melodies that also characterize the album can already be heard.
Although the classic works of bands like Limbonic Art and Obtained Enslavement have gained significant popularity with the emergence of a band like Vargrav, attracting both new audiences and a renewed appreciation from longtime fans, Entrancement hasn’t really managed to tap into that wave of popularity with these two demos. That means you can rightly call these “hidden gems.” Two demos that, in their own right, have plenty to offer for those who enjoy melodic and slightly bombastic mechanical-style Black Metal, as well as for those who, after listening to ‘Of Passion’s Cruelty,’ were curious about what came before it.
