Incantation Family Tree
Metal Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Incantation, although not actually from New York, are considered an important band of the New York death metal scene. At the heart of the band has always been guitarist John McEntee who has also taken over vocals in recent years. The first two albums featured guitarist/vocalist Craig Pillard and drummer Jim Roe. The first two albums were written by the entire band. Bass players were very inconsistent except in more recent years. The first album had Ronnie Deo and the second, Dan Kamp. The third album brought in Daniel Corchado on bass and vocals. It also brought in long time drummer Kyle Severn who would appear on every album since with the exception of Infernal Storm. The fourth and fifth album brought in Mike Saez on vocals and he also played guitar on the forth one. Rob Yench would play bass on the forth album and the next three would have Joe Lombard on bass. Starting with the album Decimate Christendom John took over guitars and vocals although he would eventually bring in other guitar players again. Alex Bouks played guitar on two albums and Sonny Lombardozzi would play on the most recent two both would also contribute to writing. Chuck Sherwood would come in on bass and be the main lyricist at the same time Alex did. The middle albums are mostly written by John and Kyle.
John said he followed his own music progress and wanted to continue to play heavier not necessarily faster. He criticizes bands that sound to tight and likens it to pop music.
John in a reddit Q&A was asked about best 80’s albums this is the list he gave “yngwie j. malmsteen - rising force Metallica - ride the lightning Exciter - heavy metal maniac Slayer - hell awaits Merciful fate - Melissa Judas priest - defenders of the faith Iron Madian - killers Necrophagia - seasons of the dead Steeler - steeler terrorizer - world downfall Carcass - reek of putrefaction. Morbid angel - abomination or desolation. Celtic frost - to mega therion Voivod - Rrröööaaarrr”. He also said Manowar rules. When asked about black metal he said he was a fan of Dark Throne and Immortal. When asked about favorite non metal bands he names Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, ZZ Top, and Cream. He also mentions listening to Paradise Lost's first album Lost Paradise, Entombed's Left Hand Path, Asphyx, and Immolation.
Craig Pillard did vocals and guitar on the first two albums and co wrote with John
Daniel Corchado was bassist and vocalist on their third album. He has one co-writing credit. He named his biggest influences as Black Sabbath and Slayer. He also names Judas Priest, Saxon, Manowar, Accept, Bathory, Destruction, Celtic Frost, Sepultura, Sarcophago, Mutilator and Panic, Entombed and Dismember. In an interview discussing his time in Cenotaph he talks about the band being influenced by Incubus, old Sepultura, Immolation, old Napalm Death, Messiah, Grave and Carcass. In another interview he names as favorites : “CANDLEMASS, SLAYER, SABBATH, ARROW, MAGMA, HAPPY FAMILY, ESPERANTO, NIFELHEIM, MAIDEN, ACCEPT, SAXON, CELTIC FROST, AUTOPSY, CARNAGE, POKOLGEP, TANK, VANGELIS, KREATOR, SARCOFAGO, ILL BALLETO DI BRONZO, BLASPHEMY, DEAD CONSPIRACY, NECROVORE, ABSU, MERCILESS, MUTILATOR, PENTAGRAM (CHI), MESSIAH, DEFENDER, STORMWITCH, DEMON EYES, CITRON, OSTROGOTH, BLACK SHEPERD, PRIEST, DIO, BLOOD FEAST, and a lot, lot more”
Kyle Severn has been the long time drummer playing on nearly all but the first two albums and has writing credits as well. I have been unable to find specific influences other than him saying heavy thrash bands from the late 80’s.
I’m not sure what the writing credits are for The Infernal Storm.
Bassist Joe Lombard and vocalist Mike Saez have contributed to lyrics. I’m unsure if they contributed to music. I don’t think they did, but I will need to revisit them if they have.
From 2012 onward writing writing has been collaborative.
Chuck is currently the main lyricist of the band but I’m unsure how much he contributes to writing music. I haven’t been able to find his influences.
Sonny said after seeing the movie “Crossroads” with Steve Via, “I started doing private lessons for about five years, doing all different styles, jazz, blues, rock. I went to school for classical guitar, and jazz guitar, and got my masters in that, so I’m pretty well-rounded for a death metal guitar player.” His influences come more from the virtuoso type players like “Racer X, Tony MacAlpine, Greg Howe, of course the Cacophony stuff ya know, then I really started rocking when I saw the Freight Train video from Nitro with Michael Angelo Batio”
Source:
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-incantations-john-mcentee/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Metal/comments/6txoux/hi_im_john_mcentee_from_incantation_ask_me/
http://ydbcn.blogspot.com/2014/05/incantations-john-mcentee-interviewed.html
https://www.revolvermag.com/artist-interview/incantation-humble-beginnings-and-nazi-sympathizing-allegations/23571
http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-751
http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-427
https://wormgearzine.com/2009/01/04/the-chasm-interview/
https://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/interviews.php?intid=50
https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/music-interviews/incantation-interview/
https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2012/11/28/inside-the-shredder-s-studio-4-alex-bouks-of-incantation/
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2020/10/14/an-ncs-interview-incantation/#more-188307
http://www.midnightmassmusic.com/arise-from-worms-sonny-lombardozzi-forges-ahead/
https://www.haloguitars.com/store/sonny-lombardozzi-exclusive-halo-guitars-interview-incantation