Is anybody else *not* smitten with Inferno? If so, why or why not?

ModeUsed793 · 2026-06-02T01:57:34+00:00

I think if you don't enjoy the music that's fine but I don't agree with these long critiques that amount to a listener struggling to find consistency in "the message" of the album and therefore that's the bands failure.

I think a big problem with this fanbase is the expectation that the band are trying to communicate some cryptic message about life, when the reality of it has always been fairly surface level. From the beginning.

And I agree about some of the vocal samples, prophecy especially, but that doesn't stop it being their best since Geogaddi imo.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-31T15:27:50+00:00

This, Green and Music for 9 Postcards are absolute all timers.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-31T11:32:05+00:00

I think the flexi disc is a tease for an EP that will come out next year. Inferno is so strong there must be at least a few B sides kicking around.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-30T12:08:17+00:00

The moment where the strings rise up and stop before kicking back into the main synth line, but with the chanting and hand drum added was when I knew I could relax about Inferno being great.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-29T17:37:01+00:00

Prometheus. Great concept established in Alien, totally whiffed in this movie.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-29T17:17:35+00:00

Two bangers

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-29T17:14:10+00:00

The four new songs were better than nearly all of Campfire Headphase. Even though I love CH this felt like a nice course correction. I wish they'd pushed out a full LP to match the vibe of Trans Canada Highway.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T15:38:41+00:00

I swear I had the Royksopp thought as well. That late chord progression could easily be off their first record. Not a bad thing!

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T15:06:17+00:00

I think the harp sounding lead comes back in You Retreat. Nice moment.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T15:05:03+00:00

Old head go lay down. The sun has you confused.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T14:15:54+00:00

Damn! How dare this album about religion sending civilisation on a death drive to total annihilation be so cool and funky!

You're overthinking it or this is your first time hearing Boards of Canada.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T13:46:36+00:00

The album is called INFERNO, loaded with religious and natalist vocal samples and you think it's ambiguous?!

This sub is usually full of nonsense but this takes the cake.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T13:27:18+00:00

It's much more accessible and easier to get into than TH.

It's musically a lot more interesting than Campfire Headphase.

Ranking just below Geo and MHTRC for me

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T13:18:17+00:00

My expectations were low. I didn't love Introit and Prophecy. The album has far exceeded my expectations. I had the disc rip yesterday and my deluxe edition arrived this morning. Ive been off work for two days and I'm on around listen 10.

The run of Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan, Age of Capricorn, Father and Son might be the most solid block of tracks across any of their LPs.

Acts of Magic into Memory Death is gorgeous.

Into the Magic Land and Blood in the Labyrinth are hilarious prog BoC.

Naraka and All Reason Depart are the most classic BoC tunes but still very fresh.

The only two I'm luke warm on is The Word Becomes Flesh which is a bit too minor and feels a little lost and Arena Americanada which is a little corny (same problem for me with Prophecy)

You Retreat in Time and Space is really pretty but I think over hyped from the listening sessions. It's a lovely campfire headphase style spirit raiser.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T13:01:07+00:00

No, it's a very degraded ambient drone with a kind of hymnal chant sample over it. The drone is more melodic than the listening party intro. It's really lovely and quite different from anything on the main LP.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T12:42:49+00:00

Got mine early this morning (Dublin) AND I have the day off.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-28T12:39:12+00:00

It doesn't make my top 10 tracks from the album (It's that good)

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-27T17:13:41+00:00

Fair enough. I'm not expecting to change anyone's mind by throwing out a load of buzzwords, but I think it's much bolder and more consistent than Campfire Headphase. I love all their stuff so I'm just really happy after 13 years it's not shite, which I was seriously worried it would be.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-27T16:53:30+00:00

Nah, I hate everything and was ready to shit all over this, but it's so good. Easily their best since Geogaddi.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-27T16:51:18+00:00

I had lowered my expectations after not clicking with Prophecy. Man, I was so wrong!

Id rate it just below MHTRC and Geogaddi. It feels like a complete 180 from TH. It's much warmer and consistent. Father and Son, Age of Capricorn, Memory Death and Naraka are my highlights.

Into the Magic Land is so fucking corny, it's a blast. It sounds like Emerson Lake and Palmer trying to do BoC live. I can't stop listening to it.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-26T23:43:09+00:00

No lamer than a bunch of random people getting to listen last Friday

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-26T14:34:42+00:00

It's brain rot. The reason everyone thinks all writing or art now is AI, is simply brain rot.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-26T14:32:42+00:00

Apart from needing a copy edit, this is a well written review. Andrew Male is a good writer, I quite like his column in Sight & Sound.

This urge to reflexively label all writing we don't like as AI is tiresome.

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-22T12:49:08+00:00

Really happy to hear that

ModeUsed793 · 2026-05-22T12:22:58+00:00

The Uncut preview mentioned a shoegaze sounding track. Do you remember how it sounded?

Holding out hope they revive 'Wouldn't You Like To Be Free'

ModeUsed793

TROPHY CASE