Artist: Clavis Inferni
Country: Brazil
Label: Unpure Records
Formats: Demo Tape / 7″ EP
Year: 2025
Clavis Inferni, a one-man project sprung from the mind of Trance Of The Undead, mostly known for his two other projects Cursed Excruciation and Trance Of The Undead, was founded in 2021 and in those formative years two demos and a digital split were released. Yet, after that it remained eerily quiet. To date, no new material has been released. This newly issued cassette tape is actually just the second demo, with the sound quality slightly improved. Previously ‘Messiah Of Evil’ was only available in digital form but has now gotten its release on cassette tape and a 7” EP version (limited to 5 copies only) through Unpure Records.
In fact, ‘Messiah Of Evil’ follows up the first demo that got the same cassette tape treatment by Unpure Records in 2022. So although the project seems to be somewhat sitting idle, at least there’s a bit of activity through the Polish label that has also been involved in both Trance Of The Undead and Cursed Excruciation.
On a musical level, Clavis Inferni is an occult sounding Death/Black Metal hybrid that echoes both the one-dimensionalism of a band like Archgoat and the mysterious tonality of early Mystifier or even current-day Witchcraft. As a matter of fact, it is very clear that this is the work of the same musician that’s behind the aforementioned Cursed Excruciation and Trance Of The Undead. To such an extent, even, that you might wonder why he has three projects while the music might have suited just under just one of these monikers. But, regardless of his reasons, ‘Messiah Of Evil’ proves it was very much worthy of a reissue on physical format. It might not be as crushing or grinding as Archgoat or Witchcraft, it exudes a bit of that similar necro sound. Of course also fitting well too the overall arcane atmosphere of Mystifier or even old Impurity and modern day bands such as Forbidden Temple, Moenen Of Xezbeth and the likes. Definitely worth picking up a copy of that tape, and who knows, maybe someday there will be something new as well…
