REVIEW: Azken Auzi - Infernua
- Danielle Henderson
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
The term 'infernua' alludes to imagery of the underworld, where darkness takes over and decay sets in. AZKEN AUZI have embarked on an adventure of discovery following their last release three years ago. The group formed in 2021, with members of MANIAC and TOM IS FAT joining forces to explore something darker than anything they had done before. Infernua is a six track EP, showcasing their refined sound and hypnotic rhythms.
Deep Hell is the longest track on the EP and thematically one of the darker tracks in tone, the repetitive riff encompasses the harsh vocals that talk of dark thoughts. There’s an excerpt of spoken word in the middle of the track, which is from the 1992 film Scent of a Woman, the famous quote of “Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee.” by the legendary Al Pacino. From here there’s a mellow section that falls into another similar riff that continues for the remainder of the song, with the film quote repeated again as the track ends. The intro to SK is inviting as the vocals roar into place, though the melody throughout is less typical sludge and more of a grunge sound. Mid song there’s a great bassline buzzing amongst the guitar, encroaching on old school nu-metal and post hardcore elements, before flowing back into the blurry fuzz of the track.
Following the suit of its name, Black Mass is a six minute long (mostly) instrumental and ritualistic piece, featuring part of a monologue from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now. Spoken by character Colonel Kurtz the speech effectively states that they (in war) were able to achieve victory due to the fact that their men were able to put their morals aside and kill the enemy without feeling or judgement. Brought back into the heart of the track the true occult doom sound embraces the listener until another part of the speech is revealed. “And I thought: My God, the genius of that. The genius. The will to do that. Perfect, genuine, complete, crystalline, pure. And then I realised they were stronger than we. Because they could stand that these were not monsters. These were men.” The guitar that accompanies this is fascinating and haunting, launching fully into an unvarying pattern before gradually fading out.
Tracks See You Next Tuesday and Reptilian (Featuring fellow doom/sludge artist Nico Zoidozer) follow classic doom tactics that produce familiar and safe sounds. See You Next Tuesday obviously has more hostile implications, although Reptilian is overall more intriguing. The interim guitar melody, the drum lead later on in the track, and the section that follows it make some of the most interesting elements of the EP. The final piece is From Hell, which takes you on an entrancing loop of gloom and occult doom. Towards the end we have another iconic quote from another film. This time from the 2001 classic From Hell, with an excerpt from Ian Holm’s Character Sir William Gull, “Below the skin of history are London's veins. These symbols, the mitre, the pentacle star, even someone as ignorant and degenerate as you can sense that they course with energy and meaning. I am that meaning. I am that energy.” As these words are spoken, they echo and whisper, inciting the conclusion of Infernua.
Infernua is a captivating and ambitious listen, the merging of crossover genres with prominent parts of film culture make this an interesting mix. Although the melodies themselves are pulled off well and the EP flows, aside from parts of Reptilian there is nothing completely out of the box. Despite this, there are some worthy emotions and overall encompassing feeling that the EP emits that make it worth a listen.
Score: 7/10
Infernua will be released on the 6th March 2026 via Argonauta Records.
Words: Danielle Henderson
Photos: Grand Sounds PR
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