A journey that began back in 2018, what was once dubbed a solo project for Rage of Light Vocalist Melissa Bonny, has turned into something much more with Ad Infinitum. A name that translates as To Infinity, the Swiss project might be led by the beautiful mezzo-soprano vocals of Bonny, but add the phenomenal guitar skills of Adrian Theßenvitz, the powerful drumming of Niklas Müller, and the rhythmic bass work of Korbinian Benedict and you have a full-fledged band.
In fact, the project has taken off impressively that since their 2020 debut album Chapter I – Monarchy, Bonny departed from Rage of Light to fully concentrate on Ad Infinitum. Doing just that, the band has been determined to hone their craft rapidly; putting out Chapter II – Legacy in 2021, before 2023’s Chapter III – Downfall continued to show signs of growth. However, a little under a year later, 2024 finds Ad Infinitum pushing the boundaries of their sound even further with Abyss.
Released on October 11th through Napalm Records, Abyss marks the band’s fourth full-length album in four years. A rather impressive feat, Abyss is the first new work outside the trilogy of works that preceded a part of an intertwined theme. A completely separate entity, this new album plays with the band’s Symphonic Metal styling, all while featuring even more Pop elements than ever before. This may be a turn-off for some fans, but for others willing to keep an open mind, it may be the refresher they need.
To start with, it goes without saying that Bonny has an exceptional voice, and it is put on display proudly with “My Halo.” A bold opening, the song not only beams with impressive singing, but showcases the band as a whole, and as a result, immediately grabs your attention. Other songs on the album such as “Follow Me Down” and “Anthem for the Broken” continue to highlight the strong connection between the rest of Ad Infinitum and Bonny’s voice. With this in mind, “Anthem for the Broken” uniquely hits you hard thanks to Theßenvitz’s irresistible melodic guitar riffs.
Then others such as “Outer Space” (the album’s lead single), and “Parasite” continue to rattle you with heavy drums and addictive guitar riffs. Even “Aftermath” keeps up the heaviness, but then “Surrender” takes on the Synthpop vibe. Keeping you engaged, the latter is a hybrid that even includes rougher vocals and exceptionally intense drumming. Moving on, the ballad “Euphoria” arguably captures the most intimate moment to dig into. With Bonny sustaining herself as the driving force on this cut, she paired perfectly with guitars and the subtle use of keys that make for a powerful connection.
Is Abyss a different album than what Ad Infinitum has put together before? Yes, but that does not mean it is any less effective. The band shows they are willing to experiment and try different things… and that is great for any genre of music. While some of the songs do include heavy Synthpop textures, it is still the symphonic and mezzo-soprano vocals that keep you intrigued. Overall, Ad Infinitum has produced a perfectly balanced and beautiful album that could be their most compelling to date. A band spreading their wings and flying high, Cryptic Rock gives Abyss 5 out of 5 stars.
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