Style: Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal (Harsh Vocals)
Recommended for fans of: The Artisan Era record label, Vale of Pnath, The Faceless, Obscura, Archspire
Country: USA (TN)
Release date: 10 April 2026

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Technical death metal is a historied genre, one which has split into a multitude of scenes and micro-scenes over the decades. Of these, perhaps one of the most notable—or, certainly, at least the most popular—is that defined by record label The Artisan Era. Often referred to as ‘The Artisan Era-core’, the label was formed by Inferi guitarist Malcom Pugh in 2014, and is well known for its roster of highly melodic, sleekly produced tech death bands. Inferi, and more specifically Pugh—who boasts a uniquely intricate contrapuntal guitar style—played a pivotal role in defining The Artisan Era’s sound during its inception. Now, five years after Vile Genesis, Inferi return with their seventh full length offering of ‘The Artisan Era-core’: Heaven Wept.

Indeed, Inferi are a renowned name in the tech death scene by now, and as opener “The Rapture of Dead Light” barrels out of the gate, it’s not hard to see why. Pugh, along with the equally talented Sanjay Kumar, weave intricate rhythms and harmonies out of only four notes, immediately showcasing the unique, heady compositional density that defines ‘The Artisan Era-core’. Not even a minute later, the song opens up into the first longform contrapuntal riff of Heaven Wept, a one-two punch of dense, engaging melodicism. Moments like the above are where Inferi shine: Pugh’s uniquely recognizable contrapuntal melodic voicing remains a quality standard for the scene—at least when it deigns to appear. Unfortunately, such moments are relatively few and far between on Heaven Wept, though what surrounds them isn’t necessarily unpleasant.

The majority of riffs to be found on Heaven Wept consist of lightning fast staccato chugs, unified lead guitar playing, and other fairly standard tech death fare. Sure, Inferi are good at all of those things too, but if I could have my way, the balance of ornamental melodicism, contrapuntal riffing, and… everything else would be flipped. Yes, the ‘everything else’ adds textural and structural variety to the compositions, and yes, they are useful tools when considering the overall album pacing. For my tastes, though, all of the chugs, breakdowns, and interstitial moments just get in the way. Not to say I wish they were gone for good, but using them as sparingly as possible—for climactic effect—while putting the majority of focus on Inferi’s unique strengths would do wonders for the stability of Heaven Wept’s compositional quality. Case in point: “Of Rotted Wombs” completely commits to a chugging riff pattern that is not unlike a regal march, the only time on the album where such a moment truly justifies its use of the spotlight. One can imagine legions of warriors like that featured on the album cover in unified rows, steadily advancing towards a grim battlefield.

Thankfully, no fluctuations in quality can be found on the performance side of things. Pugh and Kumar are tight as ever, boasting astonishing clarity despite the technical nature of the music. The solos in particular are excellent, formulated to contain melodic narratives all their own, while still maintaining each song’s propulsive nature. Stevie Bosier’s vocal performance utilizes the full extent of his formidable range, adding a layer of theatricity to Inferi’s sound. Piercing high screams add momentum to busier instrumental moments; rumbling low growls fill out chugging grooves and breakdowns; and in between, Boiser boasts particularly mean sounding mids. Spencer Moore’s drumming is detailed and kinetic, at times even rivaling that of his performance as the newly crowned Archspire marathonist on Too Fast to Die (how cool that both albums released the same day).

Heaven Wept’s highs are incredibly high, but the cloud-piercing peak must be “Feed Me Your Fear”, which flaunts an opening melody that is stately and baroque, patient dual guitar melodies winding around each other amidst a sea of intense blast beats. About a minute later, the track explodes into my single favorite riff to be found on the entirety of the album: counterpoint, dense rhythmic accents, and constantly shifting harmonies in full swing. Regrettably, outside of this moment and a handful of others, Heaven Wept as a whole is just too full of standard, relatively uninspired tech death. Inferi have crafted an experience that is fun to listen to moment to moment, but once the experience is over, I’m left with only a handful of memorable standouts. The monkey’s paw curls: Heaven Wept is dense, intricate, and engaging. Just not in the way I want it to be. 

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Recommended tracks: The Rapture of Dead Light, Feed Me Your Fear, Of Rotted Wombs
You may also like: Inanimate Existence, The Ritual Aura, Demon King, First Fragment, Symbolik, Aronious
Final verdict: 7/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: The Artisan Era

Inferi is:
– Stevie Boiser – Vocals
– Malcolm Pugh – Guitar/Vocals
– Sanjay Kumar – Guitar
– Spencer Moore – Drums