Inferno – Black Devotion (2009)

Inferno is one of those bands that sadly enough only the hardcore Black Metal fans know about, they have been around since 1996 and have released 4 full-length albums and countless of splits. EP’s and live albums. Now on Agonia records I hope Inferno gets the recognition they deserve.

“Black Devotion” as its press sheet states, is a crushing album that will eat all fake Black Metal fans for breakfast. It’s fast, it’s brutal and it’s basically a full-on aural assault that will make your speakers cry blood.

The band’s style is a very traditional Black Metal, but with good production!. Making them comparable to current Gorgoroth, Blood Stained Dusk, and Taake, just to name a few. The vocals provided by Adramelech, are easily comparable to my all time favorite Black Metal shriek king: Pest from Gorgoroth and Blood Stained Dusk, so you know they are un-human.

The guitar riffing is relentless and a very diverse, creating brutal songs that will stay ringing on your ears for several days. But what I think is the best part of this album is that is fast and brutal, and yet melodic enough to be able to follow every single element incorporated in the music. Some songs remind me of the early days of Dark Funeral, when they relied on raw-yet-powerful guitar lines to make their music effective.

The drumming makes me tired just by listening to it, and I mean this in the best of ways, is ultra fast and violent, I’m very impressed by Sarapis work on this release. The bass guitar line is here and there, and like in many BM releases you can only hear it sometimes, but it’s all good. I must say that all songs are very well structured and flow like rivers of blood do in Hell.

“Black Devotion” is by far one of the best Black Metal albums I’ve listened in 2009, and it’s easily comparable to the bigger releases from Gorgoroth, Immortal, Marduk and such. If you like real fast paced and brutal BM then you should not ignore this true gem of the genre. I will be adding this CD to my constant rotation of BM albums.

Release: September 25th, 2009

Country: Czech Republic