Actions

Difference between revisions of "Inferno"

m
(General edits)
Line 17: Line 17:
 
{{WIP}}
 
{{WIP}}
 
== Tracks ==
 
== Tracks ==
−
All tracks are written and produced by [[Mike Sandison]].<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/37423158-Boards-Of-Canada-Inferno</ref>
+
All tracks are written and produced by [[Mike Sandison]].<ref name="discogs">[https://www.discogs.com/master/4239108-Boards-Of-Canada-Inferno "Boards Of Canada – Inferno"] on Discogs</ref>
  
 
# "[[Introit]]" &ndash; 0:36
 
# "[[Introit]]" &ndash; 0:36
Line 74: Line 74:
 
** [[Sixtyten]] from [[Music Has the Right to Children|MHTRTC]] reads out as 70.
 
** [[Sixtyten]] from [[Music Has the Right to Children|MHTRTC]] reads out as 70.
 
** [[The Smallest Weird Number]] from [[Geogaddi]] directly refers to 70, which is the smallest [[wikipedia:Weird number|weird number]]. Even though the track runs for 1:17, it cuts out at exactly 1:10, which is 70 seconds.
 
** [[The Smallest Weird Number]] from [[Geogaddi]] directly refers to 70, which is the smallest [[wikipedia:Weird number|weird number]]. Even though the track runs for 1:17, it cuts out at exactly 1:10, which is 70 seconds.
−
** On May 27th, 2026, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House White House] posted an [https://www.instagram.com/p/DY3U5XEjg24/ uncredited marketing video] for the Trump Administration that featured an audio excerpt from [[Tape 05]]/[[Deep Time]] with a familiar degraded VHS tape aesthetic, receiving outrage from the band's community of listeners and followers. See also [[White House Incident]].
+
* On May 27th, 2026, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House White House] posted a promotional video for the Trump administration that featured an audio excerpt from [[Tape 05]]/[[Deep Time]] with a familiar degraded VHS tape aesthetic. They received heavy criticism from fans, with [[Warp Records|Warp]] and [[Boards of Canada|BoC]] condemning the "unauthorised use of their music for political messaging."<ref>[https://ra.co/news/85287 "The White House uses new Boards of Canada track for promo video"], Michael Lawson, Resident Advisor, 2026</ref>
 +
 
  
 
== Release Notes ==
 
== Release Notes ==
−
All personnel credits adapted from ''[[Inferno]]'s liner notes.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/37423158-Boards-Of-Canada-Inferno</ref>
+
All personnel credits adapted from ''[[Inferno]]'s'' liner notes.<ref name="discogs" />
  
 
* [[Mike Sandison]]&nbsp;– electronics, synths, tapes, programming, audio evocations, drums, percussion, guitars, bass, string instruments, processes, sound design
 
* [[Mike Sandison]]&nbsp;– electronics, synths, tapes, programming, audio evocations, drums, percussion, guitars, bass, string instruments, processes, sound design
Line 229: Line 230:
  
 
=== Shops ===
 
=== Shops ===
 +
* [https://bleep.com/boards-of-canada-inferno Bleep]
 +
* [https://www.hhv.de/en/records/item/boards-of-canada-inferno-1392710 HHV]
 
* [https://www.crashrecords.co.uk/products/boards-of-canada-inferno-pre-order Crash Records]
 
* [https://www.crashrecords.co.uk/products/boards-of-canada-inferno-pre-order Crash Records]
−
* [https://www.hhv.de/en/records/item/boards-of-canada-inferno-1392710 HHV]
 
 
* [https://www.jumborecords.co.uk/music-single.asp?product_id=WARPCD496 Jumbo Records]
 
* [https://www.jumborecords.co.uk/music-single.asp?product_id=WARPCD496 Jumbo Records]
 
* [https://www.normanrecords.com/records/215515-boards-of-canada-inferno Norman Records]
 
* [https://www.normanrecords.com/records/215515-boards-of-canada-inferno Norman Records]
−
* [https://www.roughtrade.com/en-de/artist/boards-of-canada Rough Trade]
+
* [https://www.roughtrade.com/product/boards-of-canada/inferno-4 Rough Trade]
 
* [https://thevaultcollectiveltd.co.uk/products/boards-of-canada-inferno The Vault Collective ltd]
 
* [https://thevaultcollectiveltd.co.uk/products/boards-of-canada-inferno The Vault Collective ltd]
−
 
−
=== Various ===
 
−
* [https://warp.net/artists/boards-of-canada Boards of Canada on Warp Records]
 
−
* [https://bleep.com/boards-of-canada Boards of Canada on Bleep]
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==

Revision as of 21:24, 2 June 2026

Inferno
Inferno cover.jpg
Label(s) Warp Records
Catalogue No(s) WARP496
Release date(s) 29 May 2026
Format(s) Gatefold 2xLP
Deluxe 2xLP + Flexi Disc
CD
Cassette
Digital
Merch Bundles
Running time(s) 69:51
70:00 (Continuous Mix)


Inferno is the fifth studio album by Boards of Canada, released on May 29th, 2026, via Warp Records. It comes thirteen years after their previous album, Tomorrow's Harvest, the band's longest gap between albums to date.


Work-in-progress.png
 This page has a continuous work in progress status. Please revisit from time to time to see new content.


Tracks

All tracks are written and produced by Mike Sandison.[1]

  1. "Introit" – 0:36
  2. "Prophecy At 1420 MHz" – 5:04
  3. "Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan" – 4:44
  4. "Age Of Capricorn" – 3:52
  5. "Father And Son" – 3:24
  6. "Somewhere Right Now In The Future" – 2:26
  7. "Naraka" – 5:01
  8. "Acts Of Magic" – 1:18
  9. "Memory Death" – 2:37
  10. "The Word Becomes Flesh" – 5:20
  11. "Into The Magic Land" – 4:35
  12. "Blood In The Labyrinth" – 4:55
  13. "Deep Time" – 3:18
  14. "All Reason Departs" – 6:14
  15. "Arena Americanada" – 5:22
  16. "The Process" – 3:01
  17. "You Retreat In Time And Space" – 5:25
  18. "I Saw Through Platonia" – 2:39

Bonus flexi disc (Red 2LP vinyl edition only):

  1. "Vol.4 - P. Primers - 177 Giraud's Mirror" – 3:24

Leadup

Main article: Road to Inferno

Speculation for the album's release preceded its official announcement by over a decade, with the band and its associates sparsely giving out new information. Activity notably increased in 2025, including the band's Instagram account liking comments related to a new album, a Tomorrow's Harvest-era website coming online once again, and new merchandise being put on sale. For a more detailed look on the band's activities during this period, see the article Road to Inferno.

Promotional Campaign

Main article: 2026 Promo Campaign

In early April 2026, multiple fans received unmarked VHS tapes through the mail, with sender addresses related to Warp and their online storefront Bleep. About a week after, posters with imagery reminiscent of the band started appearing in multiple places around the UK and US. For an in-depth look at the days preceding the album's announcement, see the article 2026 Promo Campaign.

Title and Themes

As a word, Inferno references hell and places reminiscent of it. It is the most explicit reference to religion and the occult since their 2002 album Geogaddi and 2000 EP In a Beautiful Place out in the Country. The album's titles also heavily refer to concepts in cosmology and physics.

  • An "Introit" is a song or psalm that is sung or recited at the beginning of a Christian mass.
  • "Father And Son" could reference the Holy Trinity, which consists of the two and The Holy Spirit.
  • "The Word Becomes Flesh" is a quotation from verse 1:14 of the Gospel of John.
  • "Naraka" references the realm of hell seen in Indian religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
  • "The Process" could refer to the Process Church of the Final Judgement, a new religious movement which briefly existed in the 1960s and 70s. The Process was the title of their magazine.
  • "Prophecy At 1420 MHz" references the hydrogen line, a specific wavelength of radiation emitted by hydrogen as it undergoes a quantum transition. It has been used to investigate the properties of the universe, and search for extraterrestrial life.
  • "Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan" refers to the first three elements of the periodic table and the mythical sea creature.
  • "Age Of Capricorn" refers to the tenth sign of the astrological zodiac, and is the astrological age that follows the Age of Aquarius.
  • "I Saw Through Platonia" could refer to a concept by Julian Barbour of a realm called Platonia, which contains every possible configuration of the universe.

Trivia

  • Inferno has been assigned the catalog number WARP496. This seems to be a deliberate request from the band themselves, as preceding Warp releases such as Squarepusher's Kammerkonzert and Oneohtrix Point Never's Tranquilizer have catalog numbers of 417 and 411, respectively.
    • 496 is a perfect number and a hexagonal number.
    • 496 also holds significance in gematria (Jewish numerology). Representing Kingdom (Malkhut / מלכות). It should be further noted that 496 is the 31st Triangle number, which holds further significance as 31 is the gematria of the word God (El / אֵל).
  • The Continuous Mix version runs for exactly 70 minutes. This seems to be deliberate, as 70 has carried meaning to the band in the past. For example:
  • On May 27th, 2026, the White House posted a promotional video for the Trump administration that featured an audio excerpt from Tape 05/Deep Time with a familiar degraded VHS tape aesthetic. They received heavy criticism from fans, with Warp and BoC condemning the "unauthorised use of their music for political messaging."[2]


Release Notes

All personnel credits adapted from Inferno's liner notes.[1]

  • Mike Sandison – electronics, synths, tapes, programming, audio evocations, drums, percussion, guitars, bass, string instruments, processes, sound design
  • Marcus Eoin – electronics, synths, tapes, processes, sound design
  • Boards of Canada – recording, artwork, films, photo collage, design
  • Matt Colton  – mastering engineer

See Also

External Links

Forums

Press

publication article
Asatunews Boards of Canada Announces New Album Inferno for May Release
Billboard After a Prolonged Absence, Boards of Canada Fires-Up With ‘Inferno’ - Stream It Now
Billboard Boards of Canada set new album 'inferno'
Clash Magazine Boards Of Canada Announce New Album ‘Inferno’
Consequence Sound Boards of Canada Announce New Album Inferno
DJ Mag Boards Of Canada announce new album, ‘Inferno’
Igloo Magazine Boards of Canada announce Inferno (Warp) — May 29, 2026
MusicRadar “It’s like you are witnessing the fading of your own memories”: How Boards of Canada brewed a serene genre-blurring classic
NME Boards Of Canada announce ‘Inferno’ – their first album in 13 years
Opus Boards of Canada Announce New Album Titled Inferno
Pitchfork Boards of Canada Reveal New Album Inferno
Resident Advisor Boards of Canada confirm new album, Inferno
Rockshit Magazine Boards Of Canada Announce Long-Awaited New Album ‘Inferno’
Stereogum Boards Of Canada Announce New Album Inferno
The Line of Best Fit Boards of Canada reveal details of Inferno, first new album in 13 years
The Quietus Boards Of Canada Detail New Album, ‘Inferno’
We Rave You Boards of Canada announce new album ‘Inferno’ after 13-year break

Reviews

score favorable publication foreign lang writer link paywall notes
10 yes The Herald no EN Barry Didcock review yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10 yes musicOMH no EN Steven Johnson review yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10 yes Europe Says no EN n/a review no ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9 yes Uncut no EN Michael Bonner review yes album of the month
9 yes Clash no EN Sam Walker-Smart review no
9 yes Sound of Violence yes FR Franck Narquin review no ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
9 yes File Under Fire no EN Matt Young review no
9 yes Beats Per Minute no EN Todd Deman review no 90%
9 yes Under The Radar no EN Tobias Furlong review no
9 yes Northern Transmissions no EN Erin Macleod review no
9 yes Dansende Beren yes NL Tom Verhavert review no ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
8,6 yes Pitchfork no EN Philip Sherburne review yes best new music
8,5 yes Boolin Tunes no EN Dobbin T review no
8 yes Paste Magazine no EN Grant Sharples review no B
8 yes The Scotsman no EN Fiona Shepherd review yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8 yes The Skinny no EN Lewis Wade review no ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8 yes Mojo no EN Andrew Male review no ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8 yes Exclaim no EN Daryl Keating review no
7 yes Far Out Magazine no EN Tom Phelan review no ⭐⭐⭐½
7 yes Our Culture no EN Konstantinos Pappis review no ⭐⭐⭐½
6 no NRC yes NL Jonasz Dekkers review no ⭐⭐⭐
6 no Mondo Sonoro yes ES Lluís S. Ceprián review no
n/a yes Igloo Magazine no EN Kent Williams review no
n/a yes Treble no EN Adam Blyweiss review no album of the week
n/a yes Anxious Musick Magazine yes PL Karol Mazurek review no
n/a yes Chaos Reign yes FR Romain Le Vern review no
n/a yes Nieuwste Hits yes NL Jeroen Seegers review no
n/a yes The Quietus no EN Sereptie review no
n/a yes DJ Mag no EN Ben Cardew review no
n/a yes The Wall Street Journal no EN Mark Richardson review yes
n/a yes Resident Advisor no EN Sasha Geffen review no
n/a yes Attack Magazine no EN Adam Douglas review no
n/a yes Juno Daily no EN Charlie Wright review no
n/a yes OOR yes NL Koen Poolman review no
n/a yes taz.on weekend yes DE Julian Weber review no
n/a yes The Pop Corporation no EN  ? review no
n/a yes Sustratro yes ES Miguel Pardo review no
n/a yes Dagens Nyheter yes SE Mattias Dahlström review no ⭐⭐
n/a  ? Loud And Quiet no EN Sam Walton review no ⭐⭐
4 no Financial Times no EN Ludovic Hunter-Tilney review yes ⭐⭐
4 no The Guardian no EN Ben Beaumont-Thomas review no
4 no The Arts Desk no EN Ibi Keita review no

Shops

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Boards Of Canada – Inferno" on Discogs
  2. ↑ "The White House uses new Boards of Canada track for promo video", Michael Lawson, Resident Advisor, 2026

Artwork

The listing below is generated dynamically, based on: Category: Inferno artwork.

Discography Overview | view ⬢ edit
Albums Music Has the Right to Children ⬢ Geogaddi ⬢ The Campfire Headphase ⬢ Tomorrow's Harvest ⬢ Inferno
EPs Twoism ⬢ Hi Scores ⬢ Aquarius ⬢ Peel Session ⬢ In a Beautiful Place out in the Country ⬢ Trans Canada Highway
Singles Reach For The Dead ⬢ Introit / Prophecy At 1420 MHz
Rare / Early Releases Catalog 3 ⬢ Acid Memories ⬢ Closes Vol. 1 ⬢ Play by Numbers ⬢ Hooper Bay ⬢ Boc Maxima ⬢ Old Tunes Vol. 1 ⬢ Old Tunes Vol. 2 ⬢ Random 35 Tracks Tape ⬢ Boc Remii Vol. 1
Mixtapes Marcus Eoin's Campfire Mixtape ⬢ Societas x Tape
Live Sets Live @ Warp10 ⬢ Live @ Lighthouse ⬢ Live @ ATP ⬢ All Gigs
Promotional Releases Telephasic Workshop ⬢ MHTRTC (promo cassette) ⬢ Orange Romeda ⬢ Geogaddi (promo lp) ⬢ Geogaddi (test pressing) ⬢ Geogaddi (promo cassette) ⬢ ------ / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------ ⬢ Reach For The Dead (promo cd) ⬢ Come To Dust (promo cd)
Compilation Exclusives Korona ⬢ Orange Romeda ⬢ Seven Forty Seven
Produced by BoC for Others Here Come The Rubber Cops ⬢ Orangutang
Bootleg Releases Unreleased Tracks
Other Kaleidoscope ⬢ Promotional Events ⬢ Promotional Items ⬢ Merchandise ⬢ Web media
Lead-up RSD 2013 ARG ⬢ Road to Inferno ⬢ 2026 Promo Campaign
To Be Determined BoCset
Retrieved from "https://bocpages.org/w/index.php?title=Inferno&oldid=21348"