Artist: Tenebro
Country: Italy
Label: Dismal Fate Records
Formats: Cassette EP
Year: 2025
‘Inferno Contaminato’ is yet another 2-track EP by the Italian masters of musical gore. And again, Tenebro pays homage to a horror movie, this time it is the 1980 “classic” zombie flick ‘Virus (Hell Of The Living Dead)’ directed by Bruno Mattei. The story is predictable down to the smallest details. Following a disastrous experiment, a virus transforming individuals into zombies sweeps across New Guinea, forcing a female reporter, her cameraman, and a group of four commandos sent to investigate to fight for their survival. And, frankly, Tenebro is basically the same: predictable down to the smallest details. But, I am quite sure the duo that’s Tenebro will take that as a compliment.
In some of my previous reviews on Tenebro’s work I already threw in the question how long this concept will remain interesting, as in all fairness Tenebro is straight-up one of the textbook examples of a one-trick pony. A Death Metal cul-de-sac. The formula is simple: oomta-oomta drums, the occasional blitzing part, low chugging guitars and guttural vocals. Although these two songs feel slightly more organic and less digital, the difference between all these individual songs are nil. That isn’t a bad thing per se, AC/DC is still rocking their careers based on a few chords on repeat and while ‘Inferno Contaminato’ again is a pretty decent EP, the feeling is less intense as it was when the band started.
That, too, is likely to be only barely critical for the band or for the people who have Tenebro in their hearts. And you can certainly make a strong case for calling this all just a matter of persistent consistency. If that’s what you came for, you won’t be disappointed as Tenebro delivers exactly that. But it’s impossible to deny that it really is completely irrelevant which EP of theirs you put on, so the question of whether it’s essential to add another one to your collection is more than legitimate.
