Nail By Nail – Internal Inferno
Release Date: 25th September 2026
Label: War Anthem
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal
FFO: Marduk, Watain.
Review By: Bryan Mayhem
Black Metal has carved out its own distinct path, unlike any other of genre. Whether it’s church burnings, satanism and in some of the most notorious cases, murder; Black Metal is in a league all its own. Despite its extreme and often exaggerated controversial history, one can’t take away its often overlooked musical prowess. It’s unlike anything else in the world. It’s angst and majestic beauty can only be captured and understood by its wanton fanbase.
Whether it’s the dynamic 1st generation, violent and dangerous 2nd generation, or the much aligned modern era that blends more death metal into its sound, we all can agree, black metal is reaching its peak. The explosive growth of the internet puts some of the most unreachable music right at our fingertips. Whatever generation we decide to “label” as the one we are in, a band that could very well tip the scales is Nail By Nail.
The German black metal act on War Anthem records tickled our ear drums with their debut Embraced By Darkness in 2025. Their follow up due out September 25 expands on the groundwork that the debut already laid. Internal Inferno is a hyper ferocious record with majestic soundscapes that paint a haunting picture that only music can create.
Nail By Nail does not extinguish the raw sound of their debut album with this sophomore masterpiece. They in only a matter of a few years have matured. It’s an adventurous twist from the previous, but they don’t let their maturity change what has made a name for themselves. Internal Inferno still packs a vehement punch while delivering some truly awe inspiring atmosphere!
Katharsis my favorite track on the record is a dismal doom laden track that packs a punch. You are lulled into an eerie nightmare, only to be awaken with this deadly dance with the devil of a chorus.
Above The Black Tower explores the band’s growth. A mysterious symphonic masterclass of treacherous and malevolent melodies to soak in. The mood of the track itself is dour, yet incredibly beautiful.
Despite the more modern approach to black metal majesty, Blades Ov Perdition is text book black metal. A fury of riffs and blast beats overlapped with precision against the grating hi octane vocals.
I rarely listen to just random tracks on a record. Since I have been listening to music I have always been a full album guy. Records are written with a purpose to not only entertain but also tell their own story. The most important track on a record is the closing one. How do you want your story to end. The ebbs and flows of the previous tracks lead into the final installment. Do you leave me wanting more, or do you end this story leaving us satisfied. Both of the above are in my opinion the perfect ways to end a record. This record couldn’t end any better than it does. I obviously do not know for sure, I wasn’t there, but The Valley of Sorrow is the epitome of a great closing track. I believe it was written for this very purpose. It leaves you destroyed by its intense direction and hellish sound. Their story told and the final flicker blown out. A tremendous closing act!
Nail By Nail is a band that in many black metal watering holes will be a topic of discussion. They may be asked to carry the torch, to be one of the bands that is discussed years down the road as one of the leaders of the “insert name” generation of black metal. I don’t say this often, but it was an absolute honor to write this review. Internal Inferno will claw its way near the top of my album of the year list!
(5 / 5)
