Ecnephias
Inferno

Upon reaching the third album, Ecnephias strikes a great blow with "Inferno," a new effort under the Scarlet label.

A piano intro ushers us into their latest endeavor and represents a bright ray for a band that has been moving for years in the darkest background of the Italian peninsula and does so in the best possible way.

With "A Satana," Mancan's voice is supported by a very powerful heavy/thrash riff, and the rhythm section is accompanied by ethereal and deep keyboards. The chorus in Italian is an unmistakable trademark of the Lucanian combo, an excellent decision to know how to blend English with our local idiom, resulting in a phonetic outcome that shines between growl and slightly raw and gritty clean vocals.
The melodic break with an inspired and well-placed solo is excellent.

"O forza vindice della ragione..."

"A Stealthy Hand of an Occult Ghost," the second track, makes the rhythms tighter and stylistically/melodically retraces some of the best Amorphis (Tales from the Thousand Lakes).

The quality level rises with "Buried in the Dark Abyss." Mancan, with his splendid voice, introduces the best concept of Symphonic Black Metal ever birthed in Italy... if there's a closer synonym to the term "intense," this track will help you understand what I mean. The Heavy Metal passages are countless, and the melodic lines soar, making it all epically grand.

"Fiercer than any Fear," deep and galloping, brings Ecnephias to touch the high peaks of Moonspell and winks at a great catchy taste, probably the track that will gain the most proselytes live. Again, a piano and vocal intro projects us into "Voices of Dead Souls":
 
"Se fossi Dio eliminerei ogni traccia del giorno
e in un unica e meravigliosa notte immergerei per sempre il mondo..."

Inspiration and nods to the NWOBHM school make us participants in sounds both dark yet very airy and open; worth highlighting midway through is a chilling Iron Maiden-like break (reminds me of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son) and the lead guitar that seems to mimic (excellently reinterpreting) Adrian Smith. Needless to say, one of this band’s strengths is also Sicarius’s excellent performance, whose intertwining piano phrases are never predictable or repetitive.

"Secret Ways" is another hit. Listening to this album as you move forward becomes increasingly a pleasure, and the thrash attack of "Secret..." combines aggression and passion in a perfect blend.

In "In my Black Church," we find the best of Type O Negative duetting with Fernando Ribeiro's band; this song unquestionably ranks among my favorites on the album.
It's time for "Lamia," a soothing lullaby of just piano and voice, giving us a breather before "Chiesa Nera" (the album's bonus track), the entirely Italian-sung version of "In my Black Church."

Summing up, this album genuinely represents a firm will to create in Italy a product with balls, remaining personal and never a bland copy of much more renowned foreign realities.
I would strongly focus on the use of the Italian language as the final result is very intense and full of pathos, and it takes nothing away from a very inspired and convincing musical base.

After "Ways of Descention," Ecnephias crafts a 100% Mediterranean masterpiece, creating an album that's never cloying and very well thought out without always following the classic dictates of the genre, which typically involve piercing screams and ultra-fast speed.
The production is noteworthy for the crystal-clear and very well-balanced sounds, and finally, the digipack is the cherry on top.

Congratulations, guys.

Rated 5 out of 5.