Live Review: The Infernal Sea with Necronautical & Darkest Era at The Underworld, Camden, London (10/02/24)

Darkness has consumed Camden, and it comes from within The Underworld. The black metal heathens known as the Infernal Sea have arrived to conduct unholy rituals, delivering a twisted sermon to celebrate the recent release of their immense new album, Hellfenlic.

The group’s fourth studio album was released on January 26th, 2024, via Candlelight Records and it is very special.

Taken from my review of the album, I said that:

The Infernal Sea’s blackened sound is just as horrible as it was in 2012 with their debut album, Call Of The Augur. As the years have ticked by, the fire that burns in their soul only seems to increase in power and once again, they deliver an album that captures unrelenting black metal power creativity perfectly. Each track is immense on its own, but together, they make up a black metal album that few will be able to top this year.

You can read the full review here.

This isn’t my first rodeo with seeing The Infernal Sea, and they’ve never failed to impress me, but this show might be my favourite show of theirs to date. Partially because the venue is perfect for them, partially because they came with stellar support, and partially because the crowd was hot for this show. It felt like a gathering of demonic entities, all worshipping at the feet of the devil.

Unfortunately, life sometimes gets in the way, and I wasn’t able to get down early enough to see Deitus open the show. A real shame as they are a killer band, but they are playing Bloodstock 2024 so I can make it up to them there.

I was able to get there for Darkest Era though, the Irish metallers, who draw from darker and colder worlds. Infusing their epic metal sound with influences from the likes of doom, black, and pagan metal. Of the three bands I saw at this show, they stand out as something quite different because of the slower and cleaner sound. Music tinged with an emotive twist and notable grandness.

They sound immense, and they are the perfect warmup for the fires of hell to erupt with the following band, Necronautical.

I love this band and every time I see them play, I come away more impressed. The black metal is strong with Necronautical and they start hot, and don’t drop the temperature for a single second. The crowd has swelled here, and it is notable that 95% of the people in the venue are watching. Heads are being banged, fists are thrown in the air, there’s a fair bit more chaos in the centre and near the front, but that’s all par for the course with a Necronautical show. Capable of headlining shows like this.

A tough ask to follow too, but it’s The Infernal Sea, and they come armed with some devastating tracks. Although, a part of the appeal is the fact that they also bring plenty of dark drama. All members of the band looking like hell came calling and they were quick to answer. If you had no idea of the music they might play, you’d certainly get an idea once you see them on this stage.

It’s unlikely that this is anyone’s first time though, such is the noise that greets their arrival, and such is the noise that continues through their excellent set. The Infernal Sea using this time to really showcase the new album and prove that this new music sits comfortably alongside their previous work. How f**king good does Bastard of the East, in particular, sound live? It’s just one highlight from an hour’s worth of highlights and the time simply flies by.

The Infernal Sea have become a machine both in the studio and in the flesh, and its high time they really start to get their dues.