Chapter II - Legacy | CD | Ad Infinitum

Comes in a Digipak.

'In the blink of an eye, AD INFINITUM captured the hearts of the symphonic metal community and beyond with their enchanting debut album Chapter I - Monarchy (2020). Released in the unpredictable turmoil of a global pandemic, the album amassed millions of plays, and the impressive music video for the first single, 'Marching on Versailles,' quickly reached over 1.7 million views on YouTube. Additionally, AD INFINITUM's powerhouse frontwoman Melissa Bonny stands out through a variety of projects and exciting musical collaborations, such as the recent feature with German medieval rockers FEUERSCHWANZ on the joint song 'Ding' (Seed Cover). The accompanying music video has already garnered over 2.4 million views on YouTube since its release. Now, Bonny and her comrades, Adrian Thessenvitz (guitar), Korbinian Benedict (bass), and Niklas Müller (drums), return with AD INFINITUM and release Chapter II - Legacy on October 29, 2021. This time, the band decided to produce the album themselves and forego any influence from a producer during the writing process. Instead, the quartet teamed up with orchestrator Elias Holmlid and Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe, and more). The latter is responsible for vocal recordings, mixing, post-production, and mastering.

Chapter II - Legacy surprises with a melting pot of various influences and an exciting contrast between heavy riffs, sometimes even featuring a djent/metalcore-like touch, and catchy hooklines and melodies, giving the band's second album a modern and timeless touch without losing its personal signature. In contrast to the debut, Chapter II - Legacy is not a concept album in the traditional sense, although the record is clearly thematically inspired by a historical figure and the various perspectives on their development. The paradoxical life and afterlife of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula: his actions and intentions and their consequences extending beyond his death, and the resulting myths. For some, he symbolizes the figure of a hero who protected his country against the Ottoman Empire, for others, a violent and heartless monster. And for most, he is above all one thing: the father of all vampires.

Across a total of twelve captivatingly strong songs, Chapter II - Legacy once again showcases the band's versatility and undeniably demonstrates its musical evolution beyond the boundaries of symphonic metal. The opener, 'Reinvented,' entices with lovely piano sounds and quickly transforms into a powerful, majestic anthem. Immediately, the offering reflects Melissa Bonny's extremely versatile voice - from crystal-clear singing to impressively powerful screams and menacing growls. The dynamic 'Unstoppable' blazes with intense orchestration like a warm flame in the dark night, leading shortly after to the dramatic mid-tempo epic 'Inferno.' Directly from hell, 'Afterlife' speaks out forcefully, with Melissa being supported on vocals by Nils Molin (Amaranthe, Dynazty). 'Your Enemy' and the final track, 'Lullaby,' leave no room for weaknesses and present AD INFINITUM's hardest side to date. The latter does not lull the listener to sleep, as the exciting sonic universe of AD INFINITUM makes Chapter II - Legacy a hot contender for repeat listening.'