Normally, the realms of black metal are such that there isn’t much in the way of subtlety. Under normal circumstances, this is a sound that is caustic by nature and something that is always seeking to sear the spirit or rend the flesh in order to achieve some sinister purpose, but it’s every now and then that we’re given a performance by a band that goes for something different and knows precisely how to catch us unaware. It’s been five years since we last heard from Inferno, and it’s in that time the Czech act has crafted the perfect surprise attack that none of us could’ve prepared for.
Every band strives to be its own creation in some form or another, but there always comes around the rare entity that manages to become so much more; one that well and truly surpasses expectations to become something not to be underestimated nor trifled with. For all that it brings to the table, Inferno has long made itself known as just such an entity. Their discography has evolved into something truly spectacular overtime, and it’s with the arrival of their newest effort of madness, “The Anthropic Sophisms (On the Heights of Despair)”, that we bear witness to Inferno once again delivering the goods to tremendous effect. This is otherworldly terror at its most kaleidoscopic. Between the riffs submerged in oppressive atmospheres and the fiercely intelligent songwriting that bewitches the mind such that the rhythms linger for days on end in your ears, “The Anthropic Sophisms” is nothing if not a testament to the overwhelming power of Inferno.
One listen isn’t anywhere near enough in order to fully consume all that has been put forth here, but with all that there is to enjoy throughout this darkly seductive album, why would you only want to listen once? There are many things about this record that are subversive to the mind but downright perfect for black metal of this sort. So much of the creation just doesn’t feel quite right as if the album itself is going against some forlorn law of existence, yet the craftsmanship and power of Inferno brings it all together in such a form that the four expansive tracks become simply undeniable once you find yourself before the magnificent beast that has been meticulously crafted.
It’s a hell of an achievement to be around for thirty years and manage to evolve in such a way that you are considered a tour de force the world over when it comes to your particular sound, and that’s just part of what has set Inferno apart from damn near every other bit of competition in the current climate of the underground. They carved out a space for their own and inhabit it with such talent and potency that one’s knees cannot help but buckle when brought before black metal of such scope, magnitude, and ferocity. Without doubt, “The Anthropic Sophisms” is a definitive highlight of 2026 when it comes to all things metal.
LISTEN to “The Anthropic Sophisms (On the Heights of Despair)” on Bandcamp here.
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