Reviews: Sense Of Fear - Infernal Decay (2026)

This review was written by the Angels PR team and provided to us for publication on our website. We are pleased to share their thoughts on this release with our readers.

There are records that simply arrive, play their songs and disappear into the endless stream of new releases. Then there are albums that feel like they have been forged rather than recorded. “Infernal Decay”, the second full-length from Greece’s Sense of Fear, belongs firmly to the latter category.

Coming eight years after their debut As the Ages Passing By…, the Kozani-based heavy metal veterans return with a record that refuses to chase trends or soften its edges. Instead, Sense of Fear dig deep into the foundations of classic heavy metal, power metal and thrash, combining old-school attitude with a modern and remarkably powerful production. Released through Sleaszy Rider Records, Infernal Decay is a 57-minute journey through darkness, aggression, melody and epic songwriting.

From the opening title instrumental, the atmosphere is established immediately. There is tension in the air before “Cerberus” unleashes the first real attack. Heavy, dark and aggressive, the track makes it clear that Sense of Fear are not interested in reinventing metal—they are interested in playing it with conviction.

And conviction is exactly what makes this album work.

The guitar department is undoubtedly one of the record’s greatest strengths. Riffs come thick and sharp, moving naturally between classic heavy metal structures, thrash aggression and power-metal grandeur. The influence of acts such as Iced Earth, Nevermore, Metal Church and Vicious Rumors can be felt throughout the album, but Sense of Fear never sounds like a tribute band. Their influences are ingredients, not blueprints.

“Empathy To Darkness” brings a darker and more aggressive side to the forefront, while “Conflict Of Interest” delivers some of the album’s strongest thrash-infused moments. The riffs hit with precision, the rhythm section keeps everything moving with authority, and the vocals sit comfortably between classic heavy-metal power and darker, more aggressive territory.

Then comes “Ethereal Requiem”, an instrumental breathing space that adds atmosphere without breaking the album’s momentum. It is a small but important detail, showing that the band understands that heaviness is not always about maximum volume or speed. Sometimes darkness needs room to breathe.

“Kiss Of War” takes things into more traditional territory, carrying a distinctly European heavy-metal spirit, while “Kleos (Glory)” adds another melodic dimension to the album. Sense of Fear repeatedly demonstrate that they understand the importance of contrast: aggression needs melody, darkness needs atmosphere, and technical ability means little without memorable songwriting.

One of the album’s defining moments arrives with “Labyrinth”, featuring Rotting Christ’s Sakis Tolis. The collaboration adds an extra layer of darkness and character, transforming the track into one of the record’s most atmospheric compositions.

But Sense of Fear save their biggest statement for “The Shallow Journey of Your Soul.”

Clocking in at over ten minutes, the track could easily have become an overextended exercise in progressive excess. Instead, it feels like the natural climax of everything that came before. Heavy riffs, melodic passages, atmospheric sections and an epic sense of scale gradually build into one of the album’s most ambitious moments. It is here that the band’s evolution becomes particularly obvious.

And then comes “Retaliation”, bringing the record to its conclusion with exactly the kind of explosive thrash-metal energy required to leave the listener wanting more.

What makes Infernal Decay particularly satisfying is that it does not depend on one killer song. It works as an album. The individual tracks have their own identity, but they also contribute to a larger musical narrative. Even with its substantial running time, the record rarely feels bloated or unnecessary—a significant achievement for a release approaching the one-hour mark.

Production-wise, everything is where it needs to be. The guitars possess the weight necessary for the heavier passages while retaining enough clarity for the melodic work to shine. The rhythm section provides a solid foundation, and the overall sound gives the album the punch expected from a contemporary metal production without stripping away its old-school character. Most importantly, Sense of Fear sound hungry.

That hunger is perhaps the most impressive aspect of Infernal Decay. After decades of presence in the Greek metal underground, the band could have chosen the safe route. Instead, they have created a record that sounds confident, ambitious and genuinely passionate about heavy metal.

Infernal Decay does not need fashionable production tricks, genre-hopping gimmicks or unnecessary experimentation to make its point.

It simply delivers heavy metal with muscle, darkness and soul.

For listeners who still believe that great metal is built around killer riffs, powerful vocals, memorable melodies and songs that demand to be played loud, Sense of Fear have delivered something worth paying attention to.

Infernal Decay is not merely a return. It is a statement.

And if this is what Sense of Fear sounds like after eight years of silence between full-lengths, the wait was absolutely worth it.

Rating: 9/10

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