You might question this but the key is in the name. I won’t give you the answer yet, just read on. I was fortunate enough to review the previous album by Keys - 'The Grand Seduction'. It blew my mind and it took several listens before I understood the sheer magnitude of it. With Infinity; I knew what was happening immediately but that still didn’t dull the magic or scope of this album.

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It is simply exceptionally exhilarating, full of drama that defies genres and incorporates everything we love about music. Keys is a collaboration between Keyboardist, Mark Mangold and Singer, Jake E, featuring ambitious songs. The other members are Alex Landenberg and Adde Larsson, both on drums.

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What makes this music so unique is the use of a huge battery of keyboards. It is those along with the great vocals that makes 'Infinity Parabellum' both grandiose and epic in a manner few have attempted before.

To really understand what is going on you need to play track 5, ‘Eruption -Flameth’, this instrumental should really be titled ‘Corruption’ within a few notes it is instantly recognisable as being an extended version of the Eddie Van Halen guitar masterpiece from Van Halen’s debut.

 

The thing about this version is there are absolutely no guitars! Many might shake their heads in despair and dismay but believe me there is no need to. From start to finish the song writing is superb, it has astonishing melodies that capture and thrill the listener in a theatrical manner. The title track is the opener and has more than an air of classical ambience before Jake E adds his vocals, the pace quickens to that of a charge with bombastic rhythm, then it switches to the opening feel as it expands and incorporates an almost spoken word passage before it flies to the finish.

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Clearly, I can’t write such a detailed account for every song, so moving on to ‘Jannus’ which begins with a church-like organ before drums explode only to dissipate into the vocal melodies, a crescendo of instrumentation takes over, dazzling chords delighting at the voracity of it all. ‘Catapult’ has a sci fi start that propels us forward into ‘Eruption’ by it’s end you will need to consider all you think you have heard, there are no guitars! With the exception of the drums, it is all keyboard wizardry like you have never heard before!

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‘Lost In Time’ offers some Keith Emerson style keys as it switches direction. At this point I feel we are in the need of something with more gravitas and that arrives with ‘Beautiful World’ where Jake E delivers his vocals in outstanding fashion, the music is lighter and less intense, the majesty of which is both modern and mesmerising. ‘When Night Calls’ is infectious Pomp Rock adding yet another dimensions to proceedings.

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‘We Fight To Live’ is almost screamo as with venom and anger we are told why we fight to live. It brings to an end a compelling album that simply has to be heard by you all. It may be very early in the year but Infinity Parabellum we feature very highly when it comes to choosing my album of the year.