Infinitus Mortus - The Conspiracy of Love
CD Info
2012
Self Released
10 Tracks
English Lyrics
It’s rare that you find an American symphonic band that can actually mirror some of the best work coming from Western Europe. Most don’t really want to, I mean, what’s that keyboard thing for anyway. But New Jersey based Stephen Megna, AKA Stoki Megtooth, has done just that, and he does it without a lot of help. There’s two vocalists, a brother and sister combo, Vincent James& Caitlin Meehan. Caitlin does the majority of the heavy lifting but her brother provides support in appropriate places with a fine vocal of his own. The work is about love, the good, the bad and the ugly to coin a phrase. Frankly, I’m probably not the best person on earth to address the subject, being a two time loser and all, with multiple minor devastations to augment that sad record. I mean, when you’re batting lower than the Houston Astros infield you just have no right to look at issues like this ain’a? But, they said I could make a few informed comments, at least on the music if not the lyrics, so we’ll give it a whirl.
Stephen, let’s just say Stoki since that’s what he goes by most of the time, was a drummer. Took some time to learn keys and guitars, did a nice introductory work that I covered here. Nice stuff, interesting ideas well presented. Well, Stoki seems to like getting into new musical concepts. You can go just so far with that keyboard thing unless you want to give it a couple years and make good friends with an orchestra. And a choir. And the costs of having them work with you which can be considerable. Rumor has it orchestras and choirs like to be paid, and that can run up a tab faster than a couple blonds at the local French all nighter. . . something I have experience with. The French all nighter that is. Well, Stoki had a stroke of good luck, he found a friend with some East & West software. I think this is the site. Maybe not, buteither way, it’s not cheap stuff. However it does do things you just can’t do with the software you buy at your local Apple retailer, although it takes time to learn to use it correctly. I know a number of other musicians who use it, Whyzdom in Paris for instance. And Anastasia from Ashentide out in Hollywood where the stuff was intended to be used in the motion picture industry. Others I’m sure although, like I said, we’re talking big bucks. But Stoki got it and the results are spectacular. This sounds like a 50 person presentation, you get the drums from Stoki, the guitars from Stoki and full orchestration and choral work, plus two really outstanding vocalists. Not bad for three people, huh?
Well mon ami, we do have to address the love bit at some point. Much as it pains me. Now this doesn’t get into things from a kinky perspective. I’d be more comfortable with the “Who’s Nailin’ Palin” theme from our local VIP Gentleman’s lounge. That I can understand and live with. But Stoki went in another direction, “It’s about everything having to do with love but this is more focused on the dark side of love; the superficiality of love. It’s about how people use this so called ‘love’ to control other people to do what they want like pawns on a chess board. And it’s the WORST it’s ever been, especially in this generation. How does one go from something that is meant to be sacred between two people, all the way to getting married for money, benefits, a big diamond ring, a big house, expensive car, etc.? 90% of marriages in this generation DONT work out. And when they break up they cannot figure out why. Relationships based on fake superficial/material things are DESTINED to fail. You wouldn't build a house on sand, right? Each song off this album focuses on different parts of relationships. Guys who treat their girls like complete TRASH but the girl always comes crawling back, girls who use sex and love to trap guys into having kids and money. Those are only 2 examples of what this album is about, but I am sure you can get the idea.”
Well, I get the idea, but I’m not sure it’s just this generation, listen, let me tell you my stories. . . ah, maybe not, we only have so much space.
So, beyond the horror of the love boat thing, there is some damn fine music to discuss. You can get a lot of it here, along with some of the fun involved in making this production.And the beauty of this work is the meshing of the multiple components. The first track Plain Hearts begins with a crushing symphonic that leads to the female vocals. On most tracks we get the killer drumming that Stoki is most famous for, and it’s really good stuff. Reminds me to some extent of Varaska from the witches in Blackthorn, my ultimate compliment. You don’t always get a featured guitar, there is some on individual tracks and we’ll discuss some of that. But what blows you away is the orchestration, the software produced sounds that take this to a different level. We don’t always get a choral component but when we do it sure makes a difference. Whyzdom, of course, uses the real thing and you can probably tell the difference if you listen closely, but you have to listen REAL closely.
Most of the tracks are relatively upbeat; Stoki is a rocker at heart. But some mix in some less crushing metal to make the experience somewhat more diversified. I mean, love does have its moments, at least from what I’ve been told. Could be a lie, at least based on my experience. The second track, Love is Not may present this idea. Here we get the brother and sister thing introduced and it’s a nice sound.
(C) Love’s not an empty song, / it’s just as real as life,
love’s not a sensual lover / that a deadened heart always denies
Someone told me a lie / about love, and how its nigh
he said it has it’s chains / and makes you cry
Till you forget their name
The C means it’s sung by Caitlin. This one goes really heavy on the symphonics, you really can’t get much past this with much of the music I’ve heard, and probably nothing from America, it’s really superb.
Stoki has asked a number of us which track we prefer. He gets pretty much the same answer from most people. Dissolve is one of the finest cuts I’ve heard in any type of music. Killer symphonics, the choral thing, truly a fooking monster. I had to ask him about it: “Well 1st off, I LOVE Middle East Egyptian music and I think when you mix in that Middle East tone and scale and put low growling screaming guitars it sounds F***ING GREAT. I don’t know what it is but that Egyptian scale mixes REALLY well with rock and metal..soo for Dissolve I wanted to start off with a VERY authentic ancient kind of sound. Where you close your eyes and you’re in ancient Egypt. So what we did to get that sustain with the sitar we played the low b flat.. the 5th and the higher octave of b flat and we eq'ed the SHIT out of it.. with alot of reverb.” A little technical but that’s what it takes to get this kind of sound.
To tell the truth, this is really good stuff across the board. You would have trouble finding a weak link. But there’s at least one more I have to comment on. The title is One With the System and the attraction here, beyond the vocals and the symphonics is some absolutely outstanding guitar work. It comes about two thirds into the track and pretty much destroys any pretenses that this is strictly symphonic music. Clearly, Stoki has gotten much further with his guitar work than I have with my love life.
Just so you know, there’s more here than what I’ve commented on. And, it’s sure nice to hear material like this coming from the good ol’ dreary US of A where Rap is King and the Boy Bands know it. If you appreciate the Western European approach to music this will truly work for you, it sure did for me. I’m even giving some thought to dating again. . sometime in the very distant future.
9.5 / 10
