Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. 13 years to be exact. The Scottish brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin have been cooking up a new batch of tunes for us to enjoy for that long. The duo have been known for their great sampling and trip-hop beats, paired with the keyboards and synthesisers that make your ears melt. And now they bring us Inferno, their fifth studio album. Let’s see if they still have the touch…

Immediately, that iconic synth riff sound, ‘Introit’ is the opening track. short but it sets the tone. after an ear warming synthesiser, the sinister sounding sustained chord lingers before a slow beat emerges on ‘Prophecy at 1420 MHz’. Then the real BOC sound comes in, with ambient soundwaves in the background and that spacious guitar sound that has been in their records for decades. And it keeps building up until the line “I am God, the ultimate resonance” hits. Then the beat gets heavier, it sounds like the theme of a dystopian future. A brilliant track. ‘Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan’ starts off with ominous, distorted synth patterns, before breaking into the slow beat. Then the electronics get a mind of their own, creating a chilling pattern for the ears. The vibe so far is a cold one, it feels like the duo are showing their dark side.

‘Age Of Capricorn’ starts off upbeat, the keyboard riff tapping along nicely. And the bassline builds up in a good way, alongside some samples that help carry the track. the next track, ‘Father And Son’, is more on the odd side. The samples are strange, accompanied by a slow beat, but the track picks up in feeling towards the end. ‘Somewhere Right Now In The Future’ is slow, the electronics are distorted, very much in the background. The song does sound far away but close at the same time, I suppose that’s where the track title came from.

‘Naraka’ starts off with a much heavier beat. Then the ambient synth comes in. About halfway through the track, the song starts to really feel alive, the sample that comes in really adds to the track as well. ‘Acts Of Magic’ is another short track, with a thumping beat throughout, it feels like it’s building up to something important. That important thing is the next track, ‘Memory Death’. A serene sounding ambient piece, with a heart monitor beep playing throughout the track. It feels so bliss to listen to, and yet it still has that mysterious vibe to it.

‘The Word Becomes Flesh’ is another build up track, the beat slithering through like a snake. The robotic sounding sample in the song creates a futuristic feel to the song, like an android talking through the speakers. I think it’s only fair to point out the production quality so far on this album is brilliant. The tracks have all sounded polished, and it has really complemented the duo’s sound. ‘Into The Magic Land’ is next, and it certainly has a magic vibe to it. The synth in the track wouldn’t be out of place in an early Legend of Zelda game. Very mystical. ‘Blood In The Labyrinth’ starts off with that distorted background noise again, only this time the sound does come to the forefront of the track. In fact, it sounds quite similar to ‘Prophecy at 1420 MHz’, but the use of the guitar sound gives it a different edge. ‘Deep Time’ is a very daunting track. It starts off with a bright sounding background synth, before a chilling droning sound takes over. Then at the end, this slow build up starts to lift the track from the ground. It’s quite peaceful by the time you get to the end.

The longest track on the album, ‘All Reason Departs’, starts with an evil sounding sample (“the great war must be fought”) before exploding into a song that would fit perfectly on The Campfire Headphase. They haven’t lost their touch, that’s for certain. The slow beat. The gradual synth sound throughout. It’s pure classic BOC. ‘Arena Americanada’ is quite laid back; the bass is slow and heavy. The synth pops out at you throughout the track. It feels like it begins to run towards the end, as the beat and the background synth combine to create this feeling of a chase.

‘The Process’ is another strange track, it leans on the samples quite a lot, and it doesn’t really have a lot of soul to it. it’s a bit empty. ‘You Retreat In Time And Space’ is almost heavenly in its intro. The synth feels like a church organ, and the bass comes along to give a helping hand. Then the dreamy keyboard comes in, and it is pretty special. It’s just a smooth, uplifting track. Great stuff. And the final track, ‘I saw Through Platonia’, has a heartbeat sounding through the track. The synth is a warm fuzz in the background. It feels like the ending to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon, only with a lot more ambience.

And with that, the 13 year long wait is over, and was well worth it. The electronic duo has delivered another cult classic with Inferno, and I’m sure their loyal fans will enjoy the album as much as I have. They’ve returned to their old sound on some tracks and captured the almost dystopian feeling of the modern future. You won’t want to miss this one.

Boards of Canada: Inferno – Out 29 May 2026 (Warp Records)

of Canada – Introit / Prophecy At 1420 MHz