Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, Vera Grace’s debut album INFERNVM explores themes of sin, punishment and catharsis across nine unrelenting techno cuts.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Vera Grace is one of the Amsterdam electronic scene’s viscerally impactful DJ and producers. Her signature hard techno sound – a gritty blend of industrial and entrancing soundscapes – commands attention.
Her debut album – landing on the record label of storied Berlin club night Deestricted – is inspired by Dante’s “Inferno”, the first part of his epic poem, The Divine Comedy.
The poem follows Dante as he journeys through Hell, guided by the ancient poet Virgil. Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth, each circle representing a specific sin and its punishment. The sinners encounter increasingly severe sufferings, from the unbaptized and the lustful in the lighter outer circles to traitors in the icy innermost pit.
This allegorical work explores themes of morality, the soul’s journey after death, and the poet’s critique of contemporary Italian politics. Dante’s vivid and imaginative depiction of infernal punishment emphasizes the poem’s moral and ethical message; themes that Vera explores on her stunning debut album.
INFERNVM is a relentless techno odyssey, sculpted with dark, driving beats that mirror Dante’s descent into Hell, with each track representing one of the nine circles. The album weaves haunting samples and dissonant synths, creating a landscape of existential dread and reflection.
Its pulsating rhythms evoke the eternal dance of sin and consequence, while industrial textures echo the poem’s grim tableau. This sonic journey is not just a nod to literary genius but a visceral experience of the infernal, compelling listeners to confront the darker shades of the human condition.
”My aim was to create a journey from the first to the last track, drawing inspiration from raw hypnotic techno and converting it into a heavier sound.” Vera Grace
A recent Conservatorium of Amsterdam alumna, Vera’s sound echoes across European clublands, from Intercell to Soenda, to BASIS, reverberating her Dutch roots, while in Berlin – a city that has become her second home – her Deestricted residency cements her as a cross-border electronic staple.
On stage, Vera’s presence is a force of nature, weaving a narrative of pounding 909 beats, brooding emotions, and an undercurrent of optimism. Her sets, an unyielding marathon of motion, escalate into diverse, potent peaks, reflecting her own relentless dynamism.
Her discography includes the ‘Eternal Perdition’ and ‘Manipulation’ EPs on the acclaimed Sacred Court label, with further singles released on labels like Elements and Nulleins.
Deestricted is a club night born inside the walls of Griessmuehle, which has evolved into a record label, championing intensity, relentless pace, sharp and rowdy techno sounds. Deestricted is sweat, condensation on walls, and the weave of bodies. INFERNVM is the label’s first album release.
INFERNVM is out 08 December on Deestricted
VERA GRACE LINKS
https://soundcloud.com/veragraceb
https://www.instagram.com/veragraceb
DEESTRICTED LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/deestricted
https://www.instagram.com/deestricted
https://soundcloud.com/deestricted
