Torture Campaign by Infernal Conquest: A Blackened Rager That Sticks With You
If you’re a fan of raw, unfiltered black metal that feels like it crawled outta some cursed forest in the dead of night, Torture Campaign might just be your jam. Released back in 2012 by the US-based band Infernal Conquest (and put out independently since they didn’t hook up with any label), this album hits hard where it counts—right in the soul-crushing, frostbitten feels.
Let’s get one thing straight: this ain’t no polished, radio-friendly rock record. It’s dirty, grimy, and dripping with malice—the kind of stuff that makes you wanna light candles… or maybe burn ‘em. The tracks on here are relentless, but there’s two that really stuck in my head after the first listen.
First off, “Unholy Wolves Of Vengeance.” Holy hell, this track is like being chased through a nightmare by something with glowing red eyes. The riffs are razor-sharp, gnarly as heck, and the vocals? Dude sounds possessed. Like, not just “I had too much coffee” possessed—like full-on exorcism vibes. There’s this moment about halfway through where everything drops out except for this haunting tremolo riff, and it gives me goosebumps every damn time. Feels like standing at the edge of a cliff while wolves howl below. I don’t know what kind of dark magic went into writing this song, but it works.
Then there’s “Serpents Throne,” which slithers its way into your brain and refuses to leave. Something about the pacing here feels hypnotic—it starts slow, almost ritualistic, before exploding into chaos. The drums sound like war hammers smashing skulls, and the guitar work has this venomous quality that perfectly matches the whole serpent theme. By the end, you’re left feeling like you’ve been wrapped up tight in coils, gasping for air but kinda loving it. Weird flex, but okay.
The rest of the album keeps the energy high, too. Tracks like “Omen Of Extinction” and “Lord Of Ruin” deliver the goods without overstaying their welcome, keeping things brutal and chaotic. And let’s give credit to that intro track, “Intro/Spell Plague”—it sets the tone perfectly, like an incantation summoning doom from another dimension. Honestly, even though these songs blur together a bit after repeated listens, they still manage to carve out moments that hit like a punch to the gut.
What really stands out about Torture Campaign is how unapologetically nasty it is. This isn’t music made to please crowds or win awards; it’s pure catharsis wrapped in layers of filth and fury. Listening to it feels like stepping into a storm—you can either fight against it or let it wash over you, but either way, you’ll come out changed.
So yeah, if you’re looking for something safe and predictable, move along. But if you wanna dive headfirst into a swirling maelstrom of blackened rage, crank this sucker up loud. Just don’t blame me if your neighbors start wondering why you’ve got torches lit outside your house.
Final thought? After blasting this album, I realized something weird—I think my cat likes it. She sat staring at the speakers the entire time, tail flicking like she was ready to join Infernal Conquest on stage. Maybe cats are naturally drawn to black metal? Food for thought.
