Interview with Ad Infinitum (Niklas Müller)
Today we have a swiss band on TrueMetal. While their earlier offerings showcased a symphonic metal approach, Abyss reveals a whole new side of AD INFINITUM, marking their most dynamic, modern and progressive record to date. Gripping, rhythmic riffs, infectious choruses, heavy breakdowns and singer Melissa Bonny’s inimitable and increasingly versatile vocal approach present the band at the very top of their game- proving that these hard-working, ever-rising stars never fail in surprising their fans and critics alike. AD INFINITUM is Melissa Bonny (vocals), Adrian Thessenvitz (guitars), Korbinian Benedict (bass) and Niklas Müller (drums). Niklas accepted to share a few words about the band’s recent issues.
So, Nik. How is the European tour going, supporting mighty Kamelot? Did you enjoy your show in Milano?
The Tour was great! We had an amazing time with Kamelot, BlackBriar and Frozen Crown. It’s always nice to meet old and new friends on the road. The Show in Milano was great, when we played there the first time in 2022 it was already amazing. We couldn’t wait to come back 🙂
What shall the fans expect from your brand new release, Abyss?
A more evolved version of Ad Infinitum, where we embraced the idea of creating music without boundaries. Our goal was to delve deeper into our sound and let each song develop organically, giving it exactly what it needs to thrive—free from the constraints of genre definitions.
Can you share your impressions about the genesis, the recording and the production of the album?
We began writing the music during several songwriting camps, much like we did for Chapter III. It’s always an incredible experience to retreat as a band to a house and dedicate an entire week or two solely to creating new music. Once the writing and production were complete, we headed to the studio with Jacob Hansen to record the tracks. I especially love recording drums with him—the workflow is not only creative but also smooth and enjoyable. Afterward, we added some final production touches, and Jacob worked his magic on the mixes, bringing everything to life.
Tell us something about the artwork of the album.
We wanted to do something new and more artistic this time. For the „Chapter-Trilogy“ we created album artwork that have a movie-poster-ish style, this timewe wanted something more abstract. We worked with Stefan Heilemann and he did an amazing artwork for this album, we absolutely love it. We loved it so much, we had to print it on our new backdrop (as fans in Milano might have seen :P)
Which are the main topics you work on when it comes to the lyrics of the songs?
That’s more a Melissa question, but let me try. The Topics are more personal this time, we talk about fears, anxieties, dreams and hopes we experience and want to share.
How was it to work on the video of Follow Me Down? Which are your impressions about the final cut?
It was a cool experience—literally! Despite being July in Germany, it definitely didn’t feel like summer. During the day, we shot the video for ‘Surrender,’ and as the sun set, we moved on to ‘Follow Me Down.’ The set was quite minimalistic, but when I saw some of the shots from Mirko Witzki, I was blown away by how he transformed that simplicity into such striking visuals. Watching the first cut only reinforced that feeling—I absolutely love the result.
Which are your thoughts about the first six years of existence of Ad Infinitum?
Great journey, great people, the best is yet to come!
Which are your main inspirations both in terms of musicians and bands?
Hard to tell, it constantly switches. As a drummer i was a huge Dream Theater nerd when I grew up, so it’s safe to say Mike Portnoy was a big influence. Currently i am mostly touched by artists like Caskets, Plini, Sleep Token, Holding Absence, Humanity’s Last Breath and Earthside.
Are you satisfied with working with a cool label such as Napalm Records?
Absolutely! We have a great team and great communication.
Which final message and greeting would you send to your Italian fans?
Thank you for following the bands journey and listening to our music. It means the world to us and we can’t wait to come back to your beautiful country! 🙂
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