Beto Vazquez Infinity | |
Origin: | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Genre: | Symphonic power metal[1] |
Years Active: | 2000–present |
Label: | BVM |
Beto Vazquez Infinity is an Argentine heavy metal project from Buenos Aires led by Alberto 'Beto' Vazquez. Formed in 2000, the outfit has released seven studio albums and a live DVD. Vazquez uses a large number guests on his records, while he occasionally plays live with a six-piece band.
Vazquez was previously a member of the metal band Nepal, which folded in 2000. Looking for a different musical outlet, he composed a demo in September 1999 and offered it to his record label Nems Enterprises. They gave him a record deal,[2] but suggested the use of guest vocalists who sang in English to facilitate a worldwide release. Vazquez wrote and produced all the songs, which featured performances by Tarja Turunen, Candice Night, Sabine Edelsbacher and Fabio Lione. The self-titled album was released in South America in March 2001 and throughout the world a year later.[3] He toured the album with a six-piece band that made its international debut at the Viña Rock festival in Spain.[4] They also supported slots others, including Nightwish,[5] Labyrinth, Vision Divine, Angra and Tierra Santa. Towards the end of 2002, the Wizard EP was released, containing different versions and outtakes.[6]
In 2006, Beto Vazquez released a second studio album, Flying Towards the New Horizon, his own label, BVM Records.[7] It included guest appearances by Antti Raili (Celesty), Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and Sonia Pineault (Forgotten Tales). The album release was limited to Argentina.[8] Two years later, the album Darkmind appeared on the same label, featuring Olaf Thorsen (Vision Divine – Labyrinth), Sandra Schleret (Elis), Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion) and Manda Ophuis (Nemesea).[9] [10] In 2010, on the tenth anniversary of the project, Beto Vazquez released the double album Existence.[11] It featured twenty guest musicians, including Timo Tolkki (ex Stratovarius), Dominique Leurquin (Rhapsody of Fire), Alfred Romero (Dark Moor) and Jacob Jansen (Anubis Gate).[12] In December 2012, Vazquez released the Beyond Space Without Limits album, featured guest musicians from Argentina Opera such as Dario Schmunck, Santiago Bürgi, and many others guest musicians.[13] It included a bonus disc with eight cover versions.[14]
After a number of years as a studio-only project, Vazquez gather a six-piece band with a view to play live shows in 2011. Since then, they have played support for Sirenia and featured at The Roxy Live and Metal para Todos.[15] One highlight was supporting the band Yes at the Luna Park Stadium in 2013.[16] On March 12, 2014, the DVD Live in Buenos Aires was released, produced by Vazquez, and recorded in November 2013.[17]