Inferno (Robert Forster album)

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Inferno is the seventh solo album by Australian singer-songwriter Robert Forster, released on 1 March 2019 by Tapete Records. It reached number 17 on the German charts and number 24 in Scotland.

Forster recorded nine songs away from his hometown of Brisbane, choosing a Berlin studio owned by producer and engineer Victor Van Vugt. The title Inferno nods to hot Brisbane summers and the fevered mood of the record. Van Vugt had also worked on Forster’s debut album, Danger in the Past, bringing a grand, spacious feel to the music.

One track, Crazy Jane on the Day of Judgement, is an adaptation of a Yeats poem. Another song, I’m Gonna Tell It, was written in 2007 and connected to personal events described by Forster.

The album is praised for its high-caliber guitar pop, with critics noting intimate, warm live-timbral qualities. The band backing Forster, dubbed The Magic Five, adapts to the material as needed. Reviews describe Inferno as a compact, potent work that may not chase mainstream success but is deeply rewarding.

Key quotes from critics:
- Record Collector: the album concentrates on erudite, top-tier guitar pop and feels revelatory, especially on the hard-rocking Inferno (Brisbane In Summer).
- Uncut: celebrates Forster’s status as a great performer returning with witty, observant lyrics.
- Mojo: a slim, beautifully presented set with natural timbres captured in a warm, intimate way.
- Pitchfork: the Magic Five respond flexibly to the songs.
- The Guardian: Forster’s lyric-driven songs grow on you, even if they seem understated at first.
- The Irish Times: at about 35 minutes, the album packs a lot of generation-spanning depth.

All songs are written by Robert Forster, except the opening track, which uses words by W. B. Yeats. The back cover credits the band as The Magic Five.