Inferno is about humans search for meaning
BoC are well-read nihilistic artists. This is a collection of their case studies of how various people search for deep meaning.
I've been listening to BoC since ~2002, and also consider myself a nihilist.
Nihilism rejects the existence of any higher meaning - but doesn't stop nihilists from being fascinated by what lengths others go to in order to find deep meaning.
Having listened to Inferno front-to-back many, many times like y'all, it seems to me that BoC were inspired by what they had been reading/studying, made tracks based on those concepts, and put it all into a record.
Here's a breakdown of the album through this view.
Introit - the obligatory opening jingle. An intro to the Eucharist, which many millions of Christians derive meaning.
Prophecy at 1420 mHz - refers to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Notably the lyrics begin with "nothingness" and end with "nothingness/the absolute truth" which to me confirms the nihilistic viewpoint. However in the middle is are other themes people derive meaning explored in the record such as "divine intellect", "consciousness", "scientific view of nature" and "power"
Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan - refers to the Big Bang - which produced only those 3 elements (big bang nucleogenesis). It is, in essence, the Leviathan that was unleashed on the universe. Could be a nod to derived meaning from the study of cosmology.
Age of Capricorn - the Mabus part is about how some people desperately tried to retroactively fit Nostradamus' prophecies to the 9/11 attack. I watched this happen in real time, and like BoC, was fascinated. The Cristian prayer directly leads into the next song.
Father and Son - Christian cultism. A theme frequently explored by BoC.
Somewhere right now in the future - perhaps referencing themselves or someone they care about getting in a car crash, which can cause reflection on deeper meaning.
Naraka - Hinduism and ISKCON
Acts of Magic - magic is a common theme in this album
Memory death - death or death of memory of prior life during reincarnation
The Word Becomes Flesh - how some people derive meaning from the study of biology/evolution
Into the Magic Land - perhaps a pilgramige to the "holy land"
Blood in the Labyrinth - search for meaning through psychedelics
Deep Time - probably a nod to author John McPhee and the concept of same name. Again cosmology
All Reason Departs - occultism and Thelema, topics frequently explored by BoC
Arena Americanada - I think this is a clever nod to the cult of MAGA, which has threatened war with Canada. The "arena" of such a war would be America and Canada (Americanada). Notably the conservative populist factions in Canada (Poilievre, Maple MAGA) come from Alberta and Calgary, which is highly influential to BoC. Notably followed by a song that sounds like samples of civil unrest. This follows themes of how people derive meaning from "power".
The Process - The Process Church/ Christian Cultism
You retreat in time and space - death and/or enlightenment.
I saw through Platonia - Platonia from Julian Barbour as an infinite combination of configurations of the universe. Notably he is a quantum gravity researcher and argues the concept of time is an illusion.
Inferno - Dante's poem can be interpreted as a search for truth, what is good and what destroys us, and the search for redemption and enlightenment.
Its notable how this sub and some BoC fans search deep into their tracks for deeper meaning. They love to layer in Easter eggs and build depth with their music.