A Dirty Dozen with ZSOLT SZILAGYI from AFTER INFINITY – October 2026

According to a recent press release: “After Infinity is a Finnish melodic power and heavy metal project founded in 2022 by guitarist and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi, known for his work with Dreamtale and Frozen Factory. Built around a flexible and collaborative structure, the band emerged from Szilagyi’s desire to move beyond a purely solo approach and create a dynamic musical environment involving multiple performers. Rather than relying on a fixed line-up of vocalists, After Infinity developed a distinctive identity by working with a wide range of guest singers, allowing each track to take on its own character while maintaining a cohesive artistic vision. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2024, received positive feedback for its songwriting and musicianship, establishing the project within the contemporary Finnish metal scene. Building on that foundation, the sophomore album Beyond Eternity further expands the band’s sonic palette, introducing new guest vocalists and pushing the balance between heaviness, melody, and progressive elements while preserving the core identity that defines After Infinity.” We get Zsolt to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our upcoming album, Beyond Eternity, is a blend of power metal and modern heavy metal with some proggy moments as well as some slow and cheesy moments, decorated with pompous orchestrations. I hope our listeners get drawn in by the catchy choruses, but keep revisiting the record for the complex parts that keep the music interesting.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My parents were really into 70’s and 80’s rock and metal music, listening to records at home and going to live shows. It was natural that I picked up an instrument and started building my own musical path from there. There was no specific point when I realised I wanted to make this seriously; it just became clearer day by day.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

There are many: Whitesnake, especially with their album 1987 and their 2006 show in Helsinki, which was my first big rock concert. Guns n’ Roses with their Use Your Illusion albums. Dream Theater with their whole catalog. After getting more and more into progressive music, Beast in Black is the band that brought me back to simpler and more powerful music, but I never lost my love for complex music.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Dino Jelusic is my favourite rising star at the moment. It would be a dream come true to have his powerful voice on one of my songs!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I enjoy playing video games, mostly offline RPGs with a good story, such as the NieR series, the Final Fantasy series, the Fable series and The Witcher 3.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I guess I would go with something like cheesy proggy power metal! I don’t think I’ve cringed at any comparison, but once a reviewer compared one of our songs to Broadway musicals, which I think was funny but not entirely untrue.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Not sure if any of our members fit those exact roles, but I can say a few things about some of their personalities. Our keyboard wizard Gideon Ricardo is not only a dreamer with crazy ideas, but he actually works to make his dreams come true! It seems like no idea is too crazy or him to bring to life. Our bass player Roi Partanen is an adventurous young man who wants to experience the world to the fullest. Then there’s Nitte Valo, our most used guest vocalist, who is super down to earth despite her legendary status as the original singer of Battle Beast, and she has a heart of gold.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I’ve seen Kamijo, the Japanese singer from the band Versailles, two times on his solo tours. His band has been great both times and Kamijo has this magical aura I cannot explain. I really enjoy seeing him live.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

There are two sides of being a musician: making records and playing live. Both are equally satisfying to me. When making records, the best feeling comes during the creation process when the first full demo is ready and I can enjoy the fruits of my creative work. As a live musician, I love playing a good show and interacting with an enthusiastic crowd, both during and after the show. If I wasn’t a musician, I can imagine getting the same kind of feelings as a chef, creating a delicious dish and watching people enjoy eating it.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I always enjoy questions regarding songwriting. One of my big struggles with songwriting is to come up with chord progressions and melodies that sound catchy but aren’t overused. It’s challenging, because the key to writing catchy music is to use something familiar that most people’s ears are used to, such as certain chord progressions. You have to balance between the catchiness and creating offering something completely new no one has done before. To achieve this, I try not to use the first chord progression that fits the melody, but try to alter some of the chords and find something new.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No. I always find something positive that came out of any choice I made, even if it feels like it was not the choice most other people would’ve made. I think making weird choices and following my own weird path helps me become someone who stands out from the masses. Then again, making choices that others have proven to work well helps me make my music sound more professional.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Dream Theater’s album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. It’s probably my all-time favourite album, and it’s full of interesting music, and then there are the references to their song “Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper.” It was made at a point in their career where their financial success was at risk; they had a new keyboard player, and they decided to produce the album by themselves for the first time. I think all that drove them into an extremely creative space that resulted in a masterpiece. It would be so inspiring to see that happening.

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Category: Interviews