Chart success for Taranaki band
A Taranaki band have found themselves in the music charts alongside global superstars including Harry Styles and Beyonce´.
Infinity Ritual, made up of Adam Colless on guitar and vocals, Jason Karam on bass and mellotron, and Mark Thomas on drums and percussion, released their debut selftitled EP on July 29.
To their surprise they made it to number 5 on the New Zealand album chart and number 17 on the top 40 albums chart.
‘‘It was quite amazing to see us at number 5 on the New Zealand chart, but to be number 17 on the general top 40 - that was something I didn’t expect,’’ Thomas said.
The band formed in July 2020 after the musicians had been playing around with the idea for a few years.
Thomas owns New Plymouth’s record store Vinyl Countdown and got to know Colless and Karam as customers.
‘‘Adam and I have been talking for quite a few years about jamming and coming up with a band that plays these big riffs and has a lot of energy and a sort of groove metal feel to it.’’
Then in September last year they began recording at Sam Johnson’s Rhythm Ace Studios in Oakura.
Getting the vinyl record made was a global effort. It was cut in Portland, USA and the band logo was designed in France.
They had a release party and gig at Vinyl Countdown and managed to sell a lot of records and CDS.
Out of the 130 records made, they’ve only got 15 left.
‘‘It’s been amazing as well seeing people from all over the world stream it,’’ Thomas said.
The band have a few gigs coming up around the North Island in November and December and have begun writing new material, too.
They have already got recording time booked in for January.
‘‘That’s the soonest we could get in there as it’s really busy,’’ Thomas said.
‘‘I have to say with Sam it’s an amazing experience recording. I don’t think he’d recorded much material like ours before, but he definitely captured the essence of what the band does, which is sometimes hard to do.’’
Getting the vinyl record made was a global effort. It was cut in Portland, USA and the band logo was designed in France.