Phideaux
„Infernal“
Art-Rock, Progressive Rock

• 2 LP Album, Red Vinyl 2026 (2018)
• Reissue
• Bloodfish Music
• 8 26677 90688 5
• new

In 2018, eleven years after "Doomsday Afternoon" the third installment of "The Eco Terror Tale" saga was finally released. Opinions are divided. The shadow of the seminal album "Doomsday Afternoon" hangs over everything. For some, "Infernal" is merely a rehash, simply rehashing sound structures and musical themes from "The Great Leap" and "Doomsday Afternoon".
There's no accounting for taste. But I'd like to explain why I see "Infernal" differently. For me, the three albums and the EP "Snowtorch" form a thematic and musical coherence. In my opinion, Phideaux has chosen the right path here by consistently developing this connection. Even though the first two "The Eco Terror Tale" albums are reminiscent of them, the songs on "Infernal" are independent enough to simultaneously form a logical continuation. If I had a tape machine, I would record the first two albums, then "Snowtorch" and finally "Infernal". It wouldn't matter where I started. I would know immediately: This is "The Eco Terror Tale" cycle. And not a single song would disappoint me. That, for me, is the true art: never being bored for a single moment.

I searched for this album for a long time, as it was only available used and the asking prices were simply too high for me. Phideaux, however, heard our pleas and reissued "Infernal" in 2026. Naturally, I snapped it up immediately. This edition, with its large booklet and red vinyl records, beautifully demonstrates that LPs are something special. Here, I appreciate not only the music itself, but the entire act of playing it, which transforms music into something truly special.

"Infernal" deals with the disintegration of a society. Lust for power, surveillance, oppression, and ecological disasters lead people to their own downfall. While power remains concentrated in the hands of the same few, the masses lose their freedom and their future. And yet, hope persists that something new will emerge after the collapse. Or is humanity doomed to repeat the same mistakes?

Musically, the Phideaux crew goes all-in. There are no breaks between the tracks on this concept album. I count 18 instruments. If I include the vocals, that makes 19. Six people contribute vocals, four backing vocals. Of course, that alone isn't a guarantee of quality. Quality arises when a harmonious whole emerges. These people know each other and have been working together for a very long time. I can hear that, too. Xavier Phideaux isn't your typical progressive rock 'n' roll maestro. He places great emphasis on melodies and lyrics that blend seamlessly. If I were to list all of Phideaux's influences that I can hear, I'd have my work cut out for me. Sounds like bland mainstream? There are reviewers who see it that way, thereby casting a shadow over the entire work. I prefer to focus on whether the many cooks and ingredients combine to create a cohesive whole. And it works exceptionally well here. We have a lot of lyrics, often performed in multiple parts. Wonderful dynamics of loud and soft. Not classic prog. I'd call it multi-genre prog. The complexity lies in the interweaving of sound structures and lyrics. They form a symbiosis. For some fans of classic prog, this is certainly too polished. In my opinion, Xavier is a perfectionist; he doesn't think much of improvisation on studio albums. And even that's only part of the truth, because the album cover states: The songs were found by Xavier Phideaux and the band. Nevertheless, one shouldn't expect any experiments from "Infernal".

Besides the usual instruments, we also hear dobro, cello, violin, and trumpet. It's harmonically interwoven, song-oriented, and finely chiseled. Mass-market appeal? Mainstream? No. Phideaux has delivered a worthy finale here, one that doesn't need to hide behind "Doomsday Afternoon".

Fiendish 2003
Ghost Story 2004
Chupacabras 2005
313 2006
The Great Leap 2006
Doomsday Afternoon 2007
Number Seven 2009
Snowtorch 2011
Infernal 2018
AutoMoto Animus 2026 

All photos are from my LP. The rights to all designs, logos, texts, and fonts shown in the photos naturally belong to their respective copyright holders.

TheProgThief
©26.10.2026
Mk 1