Inferi are a technical/melodic death metal band from Nashville, Tennessee formed in 2006 and have put out some of the most incredible albums in recent memory. With 2018’s Revenant being the latest chapter from these musicians, they have contributed themselves to combine various elements from technical, melodic, and symphonic arrangements to create a hellishly brutal yet heavenly melodic sound that is just out of bounds. Revenant’s atmosphere, lyricism, songwriting and musicianship is outstanding. The speed and intensity of Inferi really shows through with mind-splitting solos, intensely solid blasts, and ridiculously melodic phrases pulverizes the astonishing signatures and production flowing through the album’s presentation is magnificent.
Their last album, released in 2014 titled The Path to Apotheosis was a album that shot themselves to the stratosphere as it became one of their best albums the band has ever recorded and produced. This time, Revenant is a album portraying the nine rings of hell as described in Dante’s Inferno. Guitarists Malcolm Pugh (A Loathing Requiem, ex-Enfold Darkness) and Mike Low (ex-Enfold Darkness) mixed their statistics to bring dedication for their death metal riffs that bring out a Arsis/ The Black Dahlia Murder approach with chugging hooks and gripped rhythms. Even with the songs such as Condemned Assailant,” “Thy Menacing Gaze,” and “Smolder in the Ash,” takes the listener into a luxurious landscape of breathtaking heights and trundling valleys smooth the record into something more digestible, but Revenant keeps the natural entrances and exits.
Sam Schneider, the frontman of Inferi, demonstrates his wide variety of vocal ranges brings out a Cradle Of Filth-esque highs and Trevor Strnad inspired lows but his individual parts throughout the album is freaking amazing. Inferi’s Revenant have reexamined and improved their formula and have put out easily their best work to date. If you’re into technical and melodic death metal or fans of Arsis, The Black Dahlia Murder and their past material then Revenant will keep you on board.
Overall Score: 9.0/10
Review by Jake Butler
