SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOARDS OF CANADA – INFERNO

BOARDS OF CANADA
INFERNO
WARP

Boards of Canada have never come up short when it comes to tape-warped, ominous music, and 2026’s latest release, Inferno, may be their heaviest collection of tracks to date. This long-awaited fifth studio LP takes the listener into new realms of sonic obscurity while, at the same time, dipping back into earlier catalogue vibes with their signature syncopated dialogue cutting and otherworldly wobbly tones. Simply put, Inferno is a masterpiece.

For lifers who go back to 1998’s Music Has the Right to Children and previous releases, this new album is an absolute gem, with 18 tracks spanning over 70 mins of music. This expansive series of tracks keeps the auditory senses fully engaged and intrigued from its opening track, “Introit,” all the way to its finale, “I Saw Through Platonia.” It’s tough to pick favourites here, they’re all incredible.

There are certain moments on this journey that will simply grab you and start rewiring your brain on the spot. Tracks such as “Age of Capricorn,” Prophecy at 1420 MHz,” “The Word Becomes Flesh,” “Blood in the Labyrinth, ” and “Arena Americanada,” spike deep into your psyche. Just give it a spin and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Recommended listening would be in hi-fi, with no distractions, through headphones or at full volume through a good set of speakers. These tracks have deep production value, intricate writing, endless layers of synths, bass, drums, cinematic atmospheres, dialogue samples, and the always-present wobbly retro ’80s tape vibes that Boards of Canada have become so well known for.

Now, there’s no question that the vinyl release must be mentioned here. The Inferno Deluxe Edition is a collector’s must-have. The contents include: transparent red 2-LP vinyl, triple gatefold outer sleeve, printed inner sleeves, a 16-page, 2-in booklet of mysterious, terrifying blood-spattered images, unlimited digital download and streaming access via Bandcamp, high-resolution digital files, and a bonus 8-in, 45 RPM hexagonal flexi-disc.

Without any additional spoilers here, I’d highly encourage anyone looking for a lysergic, unsettling, yet beautifully atmospheric listening experience to check out this outstanding release as soon as humanly possible. As far as ratings go, 5 out of 5 is an injustice, it reaches far beyond that scale.

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