Q&A With Mega Infinity

Q&A is a sometimes feature here at IHTOV, where a person (or persons) is given a set of questions about their record collection. Today’s guests are all from the great band Mega Infinity.

Mega Infinity is: 

Rich: Rich DiLeo. Drummer for Mega Infinity since 2023. Long time music lover. Long time karaoke king!

I’m probably the most novice of the record collectors in the band. My collection isn’t extensive and I buy albums pretty infrequently. I normally buy vinyls of albums I already have a fondness for, artists I’m obsessed with, or are fun novelties that reflect my weird/quirky sensibilities. 

Mike: I’m Mike (or Diglo)! I play guitar for Mega Infinity and do a lot of the composing work. I’m a longtime music nerd that’s been collecting vinyl since 2020. 

Gabi: Hi!! I’m Gabi and I play bass in Mega Infinity! I’ve been playing bass in the band since 2022 and I’m a huuuuge vinyl nerd. I’ve been collecting records since the late 2000’s.

Have you ever bought a record just for the artwork? 

Mike: One vinyl release I can think of in my collection initially piqued my interest because of the art was Origami Angel’s Gen 3 7inch EP. The artwork, layout, color scheme and packaging (both front and back) was all designed to look exactly like a Generation 3 Pokemon game for the gameboy advance, with an awesome set of 4 fast, catchy and shreddy emo songs named after different generation 3 games. The attention to detail on the whole layout/GBA aesthetic is so cool, and such a fun homage to one of my favorite generations of Pokemon. It totally got me roped into the band as a massive lifelong Pokemon fan.

Rich: “Abraxas” - Santana 1970.

The cover is evocative, speaking to both the beauty of and the abstract nature of real life and fantasy. I could barely read the title when I first picked it up, but the art resonated with me. Then I realized what songs were on this album. Sure, who hadn’t heard “Oye Como Va” but the rest of that album drew me in. It spins on my turntable frequently. 

Gabi: I don’t do this super often but the first one that comes to mind is this little, untitled EP by the Norwegian electronic artist, Lindstrøm. Something about the artwork was so appealing to me! Very minimalist - looks like a big glob of toothpaste or something. The music is pretty sweet too! To be honest, I don’t even remember where or when I picked this one up, but it was definitely a situation where I took a leap of faith based on the artwork. This is a nice reminder to get more adventurous the next time I’m record shopping!

What is your most memorable vinyl buying/receiving experience? 

Mike: It would have to be my first time getting a record player and my first selections at the record store to start my collection. Michelle and I knew we wanted to start our vinyl collection, so we went to our favorite local record store, Looney Tunes, a long island staple we have been going to for years for CDs and other music paraphernalia. I was just so excited to finally explore that part of the store as a vinyl collector. With our Audio technica turntable I got us 4 records to start our collection that were a mix of classic and recent favorites: Pinkerton by Weezer,* Assorted Works*by The World is a Beautiful Place and I’m No Longer Afraid to Die, Paramore’s Self Titled Album, and Dark Hearts by Slingshot Dakota. These picks we gravitated toward while we were record shopping all felt special and once we brought them home it was memorable to hear them in a different context and really listen to them a bit more intentionally.

Rich: Receiving my first record player at 18. A suitcase-style player, but it was enough to get the juices flowing. . I used my Christmas money that year to start my first spree of record purchases at Infinity Records on Long Island NY. The Who, Rush, Pink Floyd; I bought albums of artists I love so I can experience the songs I loved growing up as a kid in a new way,  and it made me fall in love with those artists all over again. 

Gabi: Usually on family trips I would try and find record stores nearby to keep myself entertained. There weren’t a huge number of cool record shops where I grew up so I welcomed any opportunity I had to go record shopping when I was out of town. On a family trip in high school we passed through Princeton, New Jersey where I wandered into Princeton Record Exchange - a really sick music store! It was one of the largest I had ever been to before. It was one of the first times I had been in a record shop that carried records by almost any artist I could think of. Sadly, I was a broke teenager and only had 4 dollars in my pocket. Although I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to afford any records, I was stoked to just be in there, flipping through section after section. I could spend hours in record stores just exploring! As I was getting ready to head out, I spotted a record that looked familiar on one of the random shelves. Around this time in my life, I was getting really into 90’s emo and emo revival stuff. I was totally shocked when I saw a copy of Cap’n Jazz’s first album “Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We’ve Slipped on, and Egg Shells We’ve Tippy Toed Over“ colloquially referred to as “Shmap’n Shmazz”. I knew that this record was long out of print and original pressings were pretty hard to come by, and yet here it was! The craziest part? It was being sold for $3.99! The only reason I could see it being sold for so cheap is because the record sleeve was in pretty fair condition. It had been slightly water damaged or something. Upon inspecting the actual record, however, it looked playable! So I bought it with what little money I had and left that record shop feeling like I just won the lottery! I even kept the price tag on the sleeve so I would always remember one of the coolest and craziest finds I ever had in the wild. It’s a great record too! Super raw, full of screamy, poetic rippers. 

What’s the most treasured album in your collection and why? 

Mike: I was heavily stuck between influential albums that immediately came to mind, so I’m going to have to cheat a tad and choose two here:

My 20th anniversary edition of the In Flames album** Clayman**. This album holds a special place in my heart, as it’s my favorite metal album of all time, and one of the first records that comes to mind when I think of a “perfect record”. It’s the perfect marriage of melody and heaviness, and the guitar work is just truly spectacular. In Flames were a band I was obsessed with growing up, and I could spend hours just digging into their massive discography. I especially loved their early melodic death metal albums and 2000s era alternative metal leaning albums, but I felt they fell off a bit after 2014 as the more radio friendly metal side of the band started to watered down their arrangements a bit (their most recent record Forgone surprised me though, and was an excellent return to form melodic death metal record). Clayman, in my opinion, was the absolute perfect middle ground between these two directions, with the absolute best of both their melodic sensibility/guitar hooks, and utterly perfect melodic death metal riffage/intensity. This record/band was always a massive influence on my playing, and my desire to blend beautiful melodies and heavy/interesting guitar work together. 

The record itself is beautiful; with a massive booklet, reworked artwork, and a beautiful orange and white splatter that compliments the art. It comes with a 10inch bonus disc of rerecorded versions of a few songs which I’m not too fond of, as the songs were perfect already and didn’t really need to be touched. Regardless, the remastered original album itself is always such a perfect listen. This was actually one of the first records I pre-ordered! I knew that I was planning on delving into record collecting at some point in the future, and I wanted this album so bad I pre-ordered before I even had plans to get a turntable, just to secure my copy of my all time favorite metal record on vinyl.

My other most treasured record is my farewell tour exclusive copy of Misery Signal’s Controller. Until I got my hands on this, Controller was my #1 white whale record, with copies being out of press for ages, or being sold for comedically large sums of money on discogs. Controller is another one of my all time favorite records, and Misery Signals are easily one of my all time favorite bands. On top of that, they’re one of the hugest influences on me as a musician, all the way from high school to now. Like In Flames, Misery signals brilliantly marries beautiful melody and crushing heaviness, but more from a metalcore lens and a different type of intensity. Controller completely changed the way I looked at heavy music, combining wildly intricate compositions/patterns, powerful breakdowns, and truly beautiful guitar melodies/arrangements that give me chills to this day. While the first band I was in, a metalcore band called Engineering an Empire, was much more in line with the type of music Misery Signals made (I sometimes joke that we sounded like store brand Misery Signals), they still continue to influence the music I write to this day. This is evident on heavier songs like “Days of Future Past” on Mega Infinity’s newest album. 

In 2024 I went on a solo trip to Brooklyn to see them on their farewell tour, and it was one of the most incredible and powerful shows I’ve ever been to. The setlist was an utterly perfect career spanning set with both vocalists, and such a passionate crowd. To my delightful surprise, they had tour exclusive copies of both Controller and their first record, Of Malice and the Magnum Heart, two massively coveted records for me that I had never even seen in person. It was so cool to not only get to say goodbye to a band that shaped the way I play and write music, but come home with some of the most special records I’ve ever added to my collection (among other farewell tour merch paraphernalia). RIP Misery Signals, one of the greatest to ever do it in heavy music. 

Rich: ”Happy Anniversary Charlie Brown” - Various Artists 1989 

It’s not a record of monetary value. Hell, I bought it for $5. No, this record is of sentimental value. To you, this record probably looks like a weird compilation of jazz and blues artists who were paid some amount of money to play music about…. The Peanuts cartoons? Yeah, it is that. However, to me, this record is long car drives to Williams Lake. It’s the road trips to see my grandparents in Florida. It’s my dad wearing cheap sunglasses singing the BB King track “Joe Cool” while going 65 down the highway in our 1997 Chevy minivan. These are all of my childhood memories in one album. 

Gabi: It’s soooo hard to pick, but I’d have to say my copy of Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over the Sea and On Avery Island signed by Jeff Mangum. Neutral Milk Hotel’s music, while a bit of a hipster cliche at this point, really changed my life and the way I think about music and songwriting. Aeroplane in particular was unlike anything I had ever heard before at the time. I was so captivated by Jeff’s poetic and surreal lyrics, his pained and passionate singing voice, the fuzzy, blown-out acoustic guitars, the noisy interludes - it was some of the most beautiful, sincere, infectious indie rock I had ever heard. One of the main reasons these records are such a treasured part of my collection is that I had the privilege to have Jeff Mangum and his bandmate Julian Koster pay me a visit at my childhood home while undergoing cancer treatment in 2012. My cousin John reached out to a ton of bands at this time and told them my story and asked that they maybe send me some words of encouragement, merch, etc. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I was contacted by them. They offered to come to my home and play some songs for me and a few friends. It was a completely magical and sublime experience that I am super grateful for! They were both very kind and played whatever songs I asked to hear. After their mini performance, Jeff offered to sign some of our records and do some drawings for us as well. Not only are these records a touchstone of young adulthood for me, but they serve as a reminder of one of the craziest and exciting days of my life, during the most difficult years of my life. 

What one record in your collection would you be most eager to share with new friends?

Mike: I tend to love recommending recent releases that are on heavy rotation for me, and one that has been getting a lot of play on my turntable is Space Monkey Mafia’s new album *Death of the Party*. It’s such a brilliant ska punk album with strikingly relevant political lyrics on topics like wealth inequality, wonderful horn arrangements, killer instrumental performances and showstopping vocals. I think it’s got something for everyone, with elements of swing, pop, big band, and even metal, and it does it all perfectly. I think it’s a great record to showcase the sheer talent and creativity of the modern ska landscape, a genre some music fans foolishly write off before even giving new ska a try. 

Another strong recommendation I’d love to mention would be Your Neighborhood by The Toxhards, an incredibly exciting, theatrical, versatile and masterfully written rock opera by one of my favorite modern rock bands at the moment. One of my favorite records of 2025, this one has gotten a TON of play on my turntable lately. I think many different types of music fans will find something to love about it. 

Rich: “Impera” - Ghost 2022

I love Ghost. My bandmates will not be shocked to see an entry from their catalog on my list.  Since hearing the initial demos on myspace in 2010 I’ve been hooked on their music, through good and the “less good”. I always want more people to listen to Ghost, and while Skeleta is a great album and a personal favorite, I find Impera to me more accessible in its stylistic choices, and the approach to the genre. It has opened some friends of mine to the band, and got them hooked like me. If you have Ghost, you have everything.

Gabi: I’m always eager to share music by bands that aren’t super well known by a lot of people. Sweet Drunk Everyone by the massively underappreciated UK mathy, art-rock band, Cats & Cats & Cats. This band was probably most well known for having a split LP with the math rock band This Town Needs Guns in 2007. Cats were responsible for some of my most favorite records back in the day. This album in particular takes far more cues from post-rock bands of the time like Maybeshewill and Explosions in the Sky and mixes it with the punchier math rock sounds of bands like Marvin’s Revolt and Meet Me in St. Louis. Long after the band’s life had run its course, this record was remastered and pressed on vinyl for the first time in 2024! I was thrilled when I heard the news, since I was always such a huge fan. 

I had always dreamed of having more of their music on vinyl. The only other vinyl release they had while they were still active was a 10 inch vinyl release of their half of that TTNG split album called Where Did You Get Lost To? - a record that I am very grateful to own too, since there don’t seem to be very many copies in circulation currently. Anyway, check out Cats & Cats & Cats! Their other albums If I’d Had An Atlas and Motherwhale are phenomenal. 

Do you have a definitive album of choice for spring, summer, autumn and winter?

Mike: There are definitely a few records and genres that come to mind for certain seasons, even if my music selections vary rapidly depending on what I’m in the mood for. Autumn: The obvious choice is All Hollow’s EP by AFI (although many AFI albums could work as well). This 10inch always hits the turntable at least a few times once the spooky season rolls around. The lush and beautiful arrangements of the Dear Hunter also compliment the fall weather, particularly the records Act IV, V and Migrant.

Winter - The cold weather tends to bring to mind somber, reflective and guitar noodle heavy records. The emo classic American Football’s S/T or sweet riffs of Technicolor by Covet pair perfectly with chilling out with some hot cocoa and watching the falling snow with my dog. 

Spring - Ratboys always are getting a lot of play on my turntable (I have almost their entire discography), but something about their beautifully written songs that balance folky and hard rocking/energetic elements remind me of the serotonin boost of getting to finally enjoy the fresh outdoors and long walks with my dog after an insufferable NY winter. Most of their records tend to work, but Happy Birthday Ratboy comes to mind, particularly due to the closer “Go Outside” echoing this sentiment perfectly. Their new record Singin’ To An Empty Chair perfectly ushered in the spring season with its beautiful songwriting, tender moments and atmospheric jams. 

Summer - Summer can mean many things, but one genre that pops up in my mind is that it’s the season of SKA! Could put many records in this spot, but some highlights include the danceable & vibey Got It by Stop the Presses, the versatile ska punk classic Strictly Rude by Big D & The Kids Table or the hooky and emotionally powerful Ordinary Life by We Are the Union. 

Gabi: Ooooh I love this question!

Spring: Get Warmer by Bomb the Music Industry! BTMI is one of my most hugely influential bands. Jeff’s music is basically what inspired me to play in bands! This record is one of my favorites in the BTMI discography. It’s the first Bomb record I ever listened to and it’s a perfect “god I’m so sick of Winter, I cannot wait for warmer weather” kind of record. 

Summer: Menos El Oso by Minus the Bear. This record is sooooo Summery! Each song makes you feel like you’re on an exotic summer vacation, spending days on the beach, driving with the windows down, exploring new places. Minus the Bear is one of my most favorite bands and I think this is their best album front-to-back. It’s full of incredibly catchy guitar hooks and really creative songwriting. 

Autumn: Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Rós. Another one of my most favorite bands in the whole wide world! Sigur Rós changed how I thought about music forever. This is one of their most upbeat and poppier records albums, but it’s still incredibly atmospheric.

Winter: Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks by Brian Eno. I’m a huuuuge ambient music fan, and Brian Eno’s ambient works are genre-defining. This album truly does make you feel like you’re hibernating on a snowy planet, safe yet completely isolated. This is another record I own that I consider a prized possession, since my copy is signed by Brian Eno himself! I found it on a whim at Rough Trade Records pop-up shop at Pitchfork’s OctFest in 2019. 

What is/are your white whale records, something you have your eye on but haven’t been able to get?

Mike: For a while, the Misery Signals albums Controller and Of Malice and the Magnum heart were my ultimate white whale records but I was able to get those on their farewell tour. I’d also love to get a copy of their second album Mirrors to complete their discography, as that’s the only one I don’t have! That one is also super rare and hard to find. As I mentioned earlier, most of their early career discography was long out of print.

Rich: I’ve been on the hunt for a copy of the Tower Of Power’s DIRECT Limited Edition from 1981. Not an expensive record, I just can’t find it!

Gabi: I immediately knew which record to pick for this question! Precious Blood by short-lived math rock band, Ghosts and Vodka. This band was absolutely huge for me when I was first getting into math rock. I think this record has some of the most beautiful and complex guitar work in the entire genre. I had always dreamed of a vinyl pressing of this record back when I was a teenager. Much to my dismay, I found out that the band did a one-off, first-time pressing of the record in 2020 and it sold out before I even knew it existed. There are copies for sale on discogs, but for a very high price that I can’t afford. Someday I hope to own a copy!

Who/what got you hooked on records?

Mike: I got into records during the pandemic when I wanted to deepen my relationship with music during the absence of live music. It had always been something I’d wanted to delve into as a music fan, but after having some extra money from getting hazard pay at my job (I was an essential worker throughout the pandemic) and being at home more, it felt like the right time to start collecting. Putting on vinyl thoroughly helped me unwind from the stress of working during the pandemic and allowed me to discover things about the records I loved by listening to them more intently and having a greater appreciation for the artwork/layout.  

Gabi: I first started collecting records when I was in middle school. My grandparents lived in Woodstock, NY and I spent a big portion of my childhood there. Woodstock is filled with tons of shops selling all sorts of hippie memorabilia, souvenirs,vintage clothes and vinyl records. I’m pretty sure these were the types of places where I first saw vinyl records for sale. My family didn’t own a record player but I was so fascinated by this aged musical format that I eventually began to grow interested in collecting records. I first started grabbing used copies of records by artists I grew up listening to with my dad: Van Halen, Boston, The Doors… and this was before I even got my own turntable. I loved how tangible records were. I found them so much more interesting than CD’s. I loved how big the artwork was, how the old record sleeves smelled - buying used records made me feel more connected to the music; it was like I was owning a piece of history that I could actually listen to! From that point on, vinyl began making a huge comeback and I started buying new records by my favorite modern artists too. I’ve never looked back!

What’s your favorite record to listen to on headphones?

Mike: I almost always listen to my turntable hooked up to my floor speaker system, but when I first got my turntable set up when I lived with my parents I did listen to a few records with headphones plugged into the turntable. One that stood out was Assorted Works by The World Is a Beautiful Place & I’m No Longer Afraid to Die, a great compilation of early releases, splits, and singles by the band, which held songs that got me into the band in the early 2010s. The swelling dynamics and ethereal post rock guitars just sounded so incredible when I was locked in with my headphones.

Gabi: Without a doubt, any album by Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Lift Yr Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven in particular was always my favorite to listen to with headphones because of it’s extensive use of samples and GY!BE’s trademark noisy and droning atmospheres. Listening to post-rock records with headphones allows you to really immerse yourself in the long-form dynamics of the music, especially GY!BE with their pieces often hitting the 20 minute mark. It’s so nice to hear the subtle crackle of the vinyl when things get quiet.

Rich: “2112” Rush 1976

The synth bit in the beginning always gives a funny tingling in my brain, but Rush is the reason I love progressive music, and 2112 is my favorite album from their era of epic concepts. Every moment is memorized in my brain, like driving and knowing the way home. I still miss Neil. His playing behind the drums, and the words Geddy sang every night.

Tell us a little about your favorite record store

Mike**: Looney Tunes** will always be my favorite record store. A Long Island staple, it’s home to so many great memories and easily my most frequented record shopping destination, from my childhood to now. It was the first store to ever see my own music being sold in, both with past projects and with Mega Infinity. They also had so many cool in-store events, and I’ll never forget seeing bands like Taking Back Sunday and Stray From the Path in an intimate record store setting. The special Afterman record release event at Revolution (it may have been Ollie’s Point at the time) that Looney Tunes held for Coheed and Cambria is my favorite memory associated with the store. Seeing my all time favorite band up so close in a local, intimate venue (and one I’ve played!) was just the coolest thing ever. 

Rich: Looney Tunes Record Store in West Babylon NY. An absolute haven for physical media in the NY tri-state area. After buying from them for the past 15 years, I can not wait for the day I can see Harmonic Convergence sitting on their shelves and see something I helped create in that store.

Gabi: My favorite record store is here in Providence, RI and it’s called Armageddon Shop. It’s mainly a metal/punk shop but they have one of the broadest selections of artists out of all the record stores in the area, which I love! They also have in-house artists whose music they release themselves! They always have something gnarly playing in the store when you pop in - usually to the point where I have to ask the employees “what band is this? They rip!!”

What’s the weirdest record you own? 

Mike: While I may not necessarily call it weird, I have a record that comes to mind because of how unique the packaging is. The Steven Universe Soundtrack vinyl I have is one of my favorites in my collection, and it’s housed in a triple gatefold box set of four 10 inch LPs. Each LP is a different color,  with each disc representing a color of one of the crystal gems (Steven, Amethyst, Garnet, and Pearl). Rebecca Sugar’s legendary songwriting and storytelling is a big influence on Mega Infinity (as evident by our multiple steven universe covers), and I love how unique the presentation of this collection of music from the show is. Even if it isn’t the most convenient listening experience to have the soundtrack on 4 different 45 rpm 10 inches, it more than makes up for it in its beautiful and very thematically fitting presentation! 

Rich: Transformers The Move OMPST - Various Artists 1986 (2015 - 30th anniversary edition)  

I’m a weird guy, so all my records are weird to me. The record that stands out the most in my collection is this Transformers The Movie soundtrack.. Now I’m nostalgic for Transformers, sure. This record though was not a music purchase, but an art purchase. The interior of this double LP is filled with amazing artwork of the classic Transformers characters that I immediately said “Thats rad as fuck” and bought it. 

Gabi: My go-to answer would be How To Strip For Your Husband by Ann Corio, Sonny Lester & His Orchestra. It’s an instructional record from 1962 mostly consisting of big band music that you are meant to strip for your husband to, I guess? I found it at a Goodwill one day and was completely fascinated by it and thought it was hilarious. It even comes with an poorly-aged instructional booklet to help you strip your very best and keep your man happy! My runner up would be a compilation record a dear friend bought for me at a flea market called Gotta Lot Of Booty. It’s a double LP (hubba hubba!) filed with booty shaking jams by artists you’ve never heard of. The most striking thing about this record is its cover, graced by 16 different ladies’ booties. I don’t know why this exists, but it’s so utterly ridiculous that I am grateful to have it in my collection. 

Have you ever bought a record based on hearing it playing in a record store?

Mike: I haven’t, but Michelle got a CD that they were playing in Looney Tunes on our last trip there. 

Gabi: I have not! But I have found plenty of new artists by asking “hey what band is this” whenever a record shop is playing something interesting in the store.

How has your record collection and appreciation for vinyl evolved over the years, and what has influenced your tastes?

Mike: As time has gone on, I’ve fallen in love with many new bands, grew my collection, and even downsized to some degree when I needed the money and parted ways with certain records I don’t listen to anymore. I find myself being more interested in getting a new release on vinyl rather than CD / cassette (back in the day I collected many CDs but don’t as much now), and I’ve always been a sucker for a pretty looking variant. I tend to use vinyl as a way to further my appreciation for a record, to listen more intentionally. I’ve used it to study the way great albums are sequenced, they tell their story and how they have different arcs, which heavily influenced the way I wrote our newest album Harmonic Convergence. 

Rich: I’m very casual about vinyl. As much as I love the medium, my life precludes me from being able to enjoy it as much as I would like to. The albums I choose to purchase in vinyl give me a comfort to things I love, as opposed to exploring for new ideas or inspiration. Perhaps one day that changes, but for now, I’m content with having vinyl as a way to delve deep into my nostalgic love for music, and keep reminding myself why I play in the first place… It makes me happy.

Gabi: I started collecting classic rock records when I first began my collection as a young teen, but now I feel like I own so many records spanning so many different genres. It also makes me feel a lot more connected to musical history and bands’ legacies. My fiance’ and I have also combined our record collections and it’s been so fun to be able to enjoy this hobby together. They have also gotten me into a lot of early alternative, new wave and disco. So I’ve been trying to expand my collection to include more records in those genres. 

Name the top three records you own that could describe you or your vibe

Mike: This was a really tricky one, but I think I nailed down 3 that work. Just Devils by PWRUP: Had to include one from the modern ska scene we love, and this is one of my all time favorite records within the genre to come out in recent memory. I feel a special connection with this one as PWRUP has become so close with Mega Infinity, both as friends and musical inspirations, plus it was the first record I had ever done a musical  feature on.It combines so many things I love about ska, metal, thrash and more with incredible hooks, excellent musicianship, and powerful lyrics. This was released in a similar timeframe to our EP Chaos Magick on the same label, and it felt like a great landmark moment in the growth of both us and PWRUP musically. 

Omnium Gatherum by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: This slot could easily go to one of the MANY (there are quite a lot, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of their discography) King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard records in my collection, but I feel the genre fluid buffet of Omnium Gatherum rounds out the section the most nicely.Being a band that truly does whatever the hell they want genre wise, Omnium Gatherum feels like a greatest hits of King Gizzard’s explorations in sound, from sweet synthpop (Magenta Mountain), to riff laden prog metal (Gaia), to over the top rock jams that take you on a massive journey (The Dripping Tap), to blues rock, hip-hop, and more. Watching this band write completely their own playbook while reaching unthinkable levels of success has always been a massive inspiration for the way I want to write music that puts creativity first and doesn’t fit neatly in a package. I felt I couldn’t let this interview without mentioning this band, as my vibe would likely include being a King Gizzard guy. 

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 by Coheed and Cambria: Had to include a pick one of my all time favorites, Coheed and Cambria. I always admired the way they combined theatrics, metal, emo, and prog to create their own identity. Coheed truly created their own world, both musically and literally with their Amory Wars concept story. A massive influence on the musical roadmap of Mega Infinity. I could pick many Coheed records in this spot, but man this record has so many certified Coheed classics, especially the gargantuan title track.

Rich: “ A Christmas Together” John Denver & The Muppets 1979 I was brought up on the classics, in that I was raised on classical music, jazz standards, and Billy Joel. But was taught to never take life too seriously, and to never be afraid to find the joy or the funny in everyday life. The Muppets are the epitome of that mantra in my life.

“Somewhere In The Between” Streetlight Manifesto 2007

An album to represent the love of the genres that molded and shaped my views on music, and life. Punk, Ska, Rock, all brought me to where I am, and are what really taught me that every person, regardless of any label you want to put on a person, deserves dignity, respect, and love. 

Skeleta” - Ghost 2025

This falls into the same category as the Streetlight album for sure, but this is a pure vibes pick.  The journey this record takes you though is immaculate. I do love this record. I love to blast “Cenotaph”

Gabi: Here’s my three!

Drugs to the Dear Youth by Tera Melos. It was impossible for me not to pick this record! This is truly one of my favorite records ever made. It’s an experimental math rock EP that scratches every one of my musical itches. It ranges from abrasive noise rock breakdowns, to jazzy and complex guitar riffs, sporadic stop-start craziness, electronic ambience and wild free-form drumming. It’s perfect and is everything I love about experimental music. It makes my ADHD brain very happy.

Double Nickels on the Dime by the Minutemen. These guys were some of the best to ever do it, period. This album is a perfect encapsulation of DIY punk ethics and how a band of only 3 guys can absolutely blow other bands out of the water. The late D. Boon’s pissed off lyrics, biting and gratuitous guitar solos, Mike Watt’s effortless bassline wizardry and George Hurley’s fast paced drumming work in perfect cohesion. It’s straightforward, it rocks, it’s honest, and it rules. It’s punk that doesn’t sound like what people usually describe as punk, and I like that. 

Ágætis byrjun by Sigur Rós. This album is my refuge. It’s one of those records that I can put on literally at any time and enjoy it. This is one of those albums that really doesn’t sound like anything else. It’s ethereal, haunting, beautiful, dynamic and unique. Completely mystical post-rock that feels like a religious experience every time you hear Jonsi’s signature falsetto and the band’s roaring, noisy climaxes. 

What’s the last record you played?

Mike: The last record I spun was 311’s Self Titled album (or Blue Album); 30th anniversary special edition on blue smoke vinyl. Since 3/11 day I’ve been on a huge 311 kick, and once those get going they are hard to stop for me. One of my favorite podcasts (Hardlore) also did a great episode with Nick Hexum for 311 day, and it gave me an even deeper appreciation for the band I already loved after learning more about their unique songwriting approach, influences, history, and work ethic. In our household we have been observing the holiday for an extended amount of time!

Rich: “The Best Of The Specials”  - The Specials  2019 Compilation 

Gabi: The last record I played was Business as Usual by Men At Work. I’m so glad that I finally picked this one up recently because obviously, “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now” are iconic bangers. But the rest of the album is awesome too! Just some really solid, catchy new wave that I fall in love with more and more each time I listen to it.

About Mega Infnity:

“Our second full length album “Harmonic Convergence” is out now on Say-10 Records. We’re incredibly proud of this one, and believe it’s our best work yet. Harmonic Convergence culminates together with a variety of influences from rock, ska, metal, post-rock, punk, prog and more, while keeping a cohesive flow.

Harmonic Convergence is our third release as a band on vinyl, as we previously released our 2023 EP Chaos Magick on a 10 inch, our 2024 split EP with Bad Mary, The Mega Bad Disaster Party, on 7inch. Notably, Harmonic Convergence is our first full length 12inch to be pressed to vinyl! (Our first album, Rainbow Heartache was released on cassette and CD). It was an extremely exciting moment to receive them in hand for the first time and get an in person look at the beautiful artwork by Bri Martinsen paired with the smokey red eco mix coloring on the vinyl. As a huge vinyl fan, this album felt the most special to have vinyl, as it was written with the sequencing of a full album listening experience in mind. You can get one from us at a show or through Say-10 Records (https://www.say-10.com). It’s also available on digipack CD!”

UPCOMING SHOWS: 

May 23: Bridgeport, CT @ The Stack (Park City QF Ska Fest)

w/With Sails Ahead:

May 29: Massapequa, NY @ Massapequa VFW Hall (Harmonic Convergence Record Release Show)

May 30th: Ambler, PA @ The Yard