ALBUM REVIEW: Negotium Crucis – The Infernal Sea

Its been a huge breath of fresh air that UK black metal has really kicked it up a gear in the last decade. For too long, our Scandinavian and mainland European cousins led the pack but the 2010s showed that the British Isles could go toe to toe with the heavy hitters. In the pack lie THE INFERNAL SEA, a band that have been enjoying a purple patch of good form in recent years. With a dynamic soundscape that fuses the traditions of the genre with splashes of groove-laden experimentation and striking live performances, THE INFERNAL SEA have been at the forefront of the UK’s black metal resurgence. Intending to keep the form flowing forward comes Negotium Crucis, the band’s third full-length effort.

2015’s The Great Mortality brought a lot of success to THE INFERNAL SEA, opening the door to many a slot at major festivals and really helped cement the band’s name on the scene, so, there is a huge amount of pressure on Negotium Crucis to not only match the level of The Great Mortality, but surpass it. Fortunate then, that Destruction of Shum is an absolutely colossal opening statement and shows that THE INFERNAL SEA have plenty of gas left in the tank. Swirling like a vicious maelstrom, the band’s frostbitten riffs, ferocious drum work and twisted vocals instantly set the tone for the record and the bending grooves and tonal shifts make the song feel like it could easily sit at home on an IMMORTAL record. A mighty opening indeed.

What follows is a band that clearly know their sound and what works to get people hooked. Throughout Negotium Crucis‘ nine song runtime, THE INFERNAL SEA rarely let the intensity dip and keep the fires of their evil craft burning brightly. God Wills It channels a heavy MAYHEM worship as the funeral marching riffs intertwine with the hallowed shrieking vocals rather well, Devoid of Fear packs a powerful punch with some of the best riffs on the record and the one-two punch of epics of Rex Mundi and Into The Unknown ensures the album finishes with a flourish.

For all of THE INFERNAL SEA‘s adoration for unrelenting black metal, there has always been a groove and hardcore inspired sensibility to their craft; especially in the riff department. This is a record that doesn’t just blow you away with thunderous blast beats, when the band dial down the tempo to unleash some devilishly sick riffage, it’s an utter delight. Befallen Order is a prime example of this as the slick mid-tempo grooves cut through the aural chaos like a hot knife through butter and the unconventional melody-driven solo helps the track stand as an early album highlight, whilst Field of The Burned‘s tremolo riffing combines with the thundering blast beats so well, you’ll be ensnared into their alluring spell. This almost accessible nature to the record is the band’s greatest weapon and will certainly allow them to spread their influence further afield.

Negotium Crucis isn’t necessarily a game-changer for both THE INFERNAL SEA or black metal as a whole. No, what this album stands as is a strong and confident successor to 2017’s stellar The Great Mortality and will really help the band further cement their namesake as one of the UK’s best black metal bands.

Rating: 8/10

Negotium Crucis is out now via Apocalyptic Witchcraft. 

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