The Infernal Sea – Hellfenlic: Album Review

By Dominic Walsh on 31st January 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

The Infernal Sea deliver another massive amount of fierce and terrifying black metal from the Fenlands of England centred around The Witchfinder General.

Released: 26th January 2024

Label: Candlelight Records

Format: CD / Vinyl / Cassette / Digital

Three years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Negotium Crucis, the faceless fiends of The Infernal Sea return with their latest offering. The black metal entities take us further down their darkened path on fourth studio album, Hellfenlic.

In November 2023, we witnessed The Infernal Sea playing at A Night Of Salvation (review here) in Manchester. It was clear to see that they are the real deal. In February of 2024, they play at Manchester Rebellion as a part of Reaper Agency’s latest metal all dayer. The Infernal Sea will perform Hellfenlic in full at the show.

Over the course of several releases, The Infernal Sea have established themselves as black metal wraiths, identifiable only as shadowy figures exemplified by plague doctor inspired masks and shrouds. New album Hellfenlic, which is an Old English translation meaning ‘a Fen of hell’, is 8 tracks of seething, raw, black n roll infused rage and follows their three highly-acclaimed studio albums, Negotium Crucis (2020),The Great Mortality (2016) and Call Of The Augur (2012).

‘I AM THE WITCHFINDER,’ comes the opening war cry as the album opens. Wasting no time, The Infernal Sea blast into action. Pounding double kick drums, blast beats, razor sharp riffs and suitably chilling vocals ensue.

The theme of witches and witch finding is what the whole of Hellfenlic centres around. Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General, was most active in The Infernal Sea’s native East Anglian area. Bastard Of The East was the first release from Hellefnic.

The Infernal Sea say; “This single delves deep inside the notion of how incredibly delusional Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General was. He was a brutal, sadistic murderer, who strongly believed that he was carrying out God’s work. He extracted false confessions out of many fearful innocent women, during a time of great paranoia within the Church. He believed demons were rampant, causing mischief, fornicating and spreading blasphemy. It was the Witchfinders’ mission to protect the church and the people from these ‘lies’.”

Told in the first person, the Bastard Of The East is a vicious and epic piece of music that pummels the senses. There is a claustrophobia in some of the guitar work and the marching drum rhythm in the centre of the song shows the band are happy to switch up their style. Watch out for the Tom G Warrior style ‘ugh’s’ too!

**The Infernal Sea play Hellfenlic in full in Manchester on February 17th 2024.**

In terms of style, The Infernal Sea head into Grand Magus territory with Witchfinder. Snarling vocals and a more rock and roll tempo ensure that Hellfenlic will appeal to more than the black metal purists. Clever use of synths and harmony make for a sumptuously dark musical tapestry.

Again, the dynamism that The Infernal Sea offer is clear on the speed metal like Black Witchery. It is a furious, three and a half minute rager. At the other end of the spectrum, Messenger of God closes the album. Before a violin leading melody, there is a lamenting acoustic introduction. The latter clocks in at a little over eight minutes and closes what is a real step up in class from the East Anglian’s.

Hellfenlic will put The Infernal Sea further into people’s conscious in the metal world; it is a grandiose and epic album.

The Infernal Sea will perform Hellfenlic in full at Reaper Agency’s ‘Multiple Album Full Release’ show alongside Ninkharsag, Andracca, The Sun’s Journey Through The Night and Abduction. Tickets are available here.

Check out Bastard Of The East from The Infernal Sea below.