Infern - Turn Of The Tide

The French band Infern debuts with this “Turn Of The Tide”, on the Dolorem Records label, a sample of old school death metal, but going further, with big influence of Bolt Thrower. Death metal and some touches of Obituary, Asphyx, Autopsy and other bands with heavy sounds from the 90s scene. A dense and dynamic death metal at the same time, with those melodies so typical of Bolt Thrower, and at the same time those heavy rhythms, which crush everything in their path.

Infern comes from Brittany, France, and are a relatively young band (2019), although its members are already veterans on the French scene. After releasing several songs, they decided to release the full album in October of this year. The album has been mixed and mastered by Charles Elliott at Tastemaker Audio, in Los Angeles, to give this heavy sound. The artwork is made by Riko, a large crab and the destruction behind it.

It starts with 'Undertow', and you wonder if it is a Bolt Thrower classic lost, it has all the ingredients, epic melodies, a solid and powerful rhythmic base, and that otherworldly and aggressive voice that perfectly defines old sschool death metal. You won’t stop moving your neck, and it’s just the beginning.

'Phineas Case' double bass drum work is here with the typical bass drum and snare rhythm of the 90s, I like it. Good melodic solo with a Mr. Murphy touch, do you still have a neck after spinning your head?

'Tormented Paranoid' reminds Obituary at first notes, even when drum appears, and some Asphyx touch, its time to mid tempos, dense riffs, crushing rhythms with occasional acceleration.

'Burning Fields' here the riff is faster, and also with the air of Bolt Thrower, and Obituary, Asphyx in memory.

'Archetype Of Brutal Aggressor'. After an initial riff, it goes to a slower and heavier rhythm, with a touch of Obituary style, in the middle changes to more melodic and faster, nice change.

'Gaining Ground' guitar riffs and double bass drumming, perfect combination, after that a melodic and epic touch, good solo, good groove.

'State Puppet Theater' we see the band's style again, pure old school, slow and dense, you can feel the different influences in their music.

'March Of The Grotesque', the track is more dynamic, with more changes, more open, more personal.

'To The Extreme' here we can also notice another air in the music, perhaps finding its way, although the influences remain, other elements are already seen, heavy guitars will stand there.

'Buried Alive' a recurring theme in death metal, and we can notice that these latest cuts have a different approach, more personal, more Infern, the influences are there, but other things are seen.

The sound is powerful and clear, you can appreciate each instrument, heavy guitars, a bass with pressence, a powerful and solid rhythmic base. For old school fans, specially Bolt Thrower fans, and the bands named.

The line up is Vocals: Julien Tanguy; Guitar, Vocals: Pierre-Loup Corvez; Bass: Sylvain Collas; Guitar: Jean-Marie Grövel; Drums: Simon Beux.

3.5 / 5 STARS