The devil’s spirit breathes once again through these black magicians Black Witchery returns with Inferno of Sacred Destruction after five years of silence, and the result is absolute obliteration. Easily one of the most "black metal" releases in recent memory, Impurath and his horde return to claim the throne, and Satan has clearly granted them unholy favor. This 20-minute assault hits like a machine-gun to the skull and flattens like a tank rolling over scorched corpses.
Following their unforgettable appearance at Nuclear War Now!—alongside titans like Blasphemy, Mystifier, Order From Chaos, Blasphemophagher, and Proclamation—Black Witchery now delivers a studio ritual that captures the essence of that live chaos, but with superior production that enhances the cellar-dwelling hellscape. The result is raw black/death barbarism that reaffirms their place among the genre’s deadliest standard-bearers.
From the very first second to the final breath, the album is a relentless offensive, like being suffocated under the vapor pressure of sulfuric acid. There’s no point even talking about tempo—this is nonstop annihilation. The guitar riffs alone showcase a newly sharpened brutality that can’t be denied. The title track, “Inferno of Sacred Destruction,” is especially lethal—its riffwork scorches itself into the brain and leaves ash in its wake. Meanwhile, “Kingdom Against Kingdom” is supercharged by its hellish riffs and missile strike sound effects, intensifying the warfare atmosphere.
With its razor-edged guitar tone, constant blast beat onslaught, and Impurath’s infernal growls soaked in demonic possession, the band creates a vortex of chaotic hatred. There are even doom-tinged intro passages that give way to cacophonous violence, making the transitions more nightmarish. The firestorm vocal detonations in “Apocalyptic Carnage” and the eerie ritualistic sounds replacing guitars in “Sepulchral Witchcraft” are among the most memorable elements.
In the end, Inferno of Sacred Destruction is a sonic curse—a violently blasphemous recording that will embed itself into your memory like a haunting nightmare. It doesn’t just assault the senses, it consumes the mind.