Matt Konfirst: Music

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, I was strongly influenced by the metal scene in the early 90’s. Some of my most influential listening experiences came from this time period. (Required listening: MEGADETH- Rust in Peace, METALLICA- …And Justice for All & Master of Puppets, SLAYER- Seasons in the Abyss, ANTHRAX- State of Euphoria, DEATH- Symbolic, and PANTERA- Cowboys From Hell) It was during this time period that I formed a band with some friends from high school called Acriminous. (Check out the Music Page for downloadable versions of the whole 1995 Acriminous demo!!!) We were wicked heavy but my interest was pulled towards the intricate parts and song structures of bands like Death and in the Metallica and Megadeth albums mentioned above.

It wasn’t a big leap into shred and progressive music. Instrumental guitar CDs became my passion (More required listening: STEVE VAI- Passion and Warfare & Alive in an Ultra World, JOE SATRIANI- The Extremist, STEVE MORSE- Coast to Coast, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN’s Rising Force, JASON BECKER- Perpetual Burn, JOE STUMP- Night of the Living Shred, JON FINN- Wicked.) Top that off with bands such as DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X, KAMELOT and NIGHTWISH, and you’ll have a good idea of where my music is coming from.

From 1998-2001 I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I was able to develop my playing, writing and recording skills. I was introduced to classical music, and I became interested in its melodies and harmonic depth. (For cool classical music listen to Bach’s violin partitas and Shostokovich's String Quartet #8 in c minor.)

My first solo disc was released in 2004 and was entitled “An Effigy of Solitude”. This album was an attempt to explore the inner reaches of the mind of someone who was gradually losing focus on reality. (See the accompanying story on the Buy Music page.) The photos used as album artwork were taken in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at a place called Pictured Rocks National Shoreline. The barren pair of rocks that adorn the cover sit atop a small plateau overlooking Lake Superior. Their stoic appearance seemed a fitting testament to an album based on an individual reflecting on the turmoil within their mind, while keeping a calm outward appearance. The back of the CD case has a photo of a quiet beach that I stumbled across after wandering for more than an hour though a thick, shadowy pine forest. The contrast between the dimly lit forest floor and the brilliance of the sunlight reflecting off the water onto the beach was a metaphor for the striking things you may find if you only take the time to explore…

With the release of “War of Righteousness” the philosophical focus of my music shifted from exploring internal turmoil to the problems that arise when one individual or group of individuals attempt to force their will on another. The disparity between what we want as a person and what the rest of the world wants from us can sometimes be quite drastic. When we accept that there are differences, things tend to run fairly smoothly, but when one group attempts to impose their will on another disharmony ensues. Road rage, school shootings, racism, religious intolerance and wars all arise when an individual isn’t allowed to exercise their own free will.

The cover to this CD is a drawing I did myself. An adult and a child stand at a distance from their home. The bombed-out wreckage of buildings sits in an open plain, where the two solitary figures look back with remorse at the destruction of the life they once knew. There is no going back. Their lives have been changed forever. They had live their lives in quiet anonymity, enjoying the small joys that life sometimes brings. As the child stares into the destruction the first seeds of his own intolerance start to germinate, and the cycle goes on…

Guest appearances by a plethora of primo players!  The all instrumental album features Michael Angelo Batio, Kee Marcello (Europe), Dave Weiner (Steve Vai Band), Lars Eric Mattsson and more.  This is a guitar extravaganza par excellence. Check out my solo on "Sudoku Rush".

My second solo effort with nine new songs, featuring the powerful title track "War of Righteousness". Huge guitars, fat bass and big production combine with melodic sensibilty to create a listening experience that pulls you in to another world.

Powerful vocals by vocalist Robin Wiper and big guitar sounds make this album a must have for fans of epic metal. Check out my guest solo on "The Gift".

Explore the edge of madness with this debut album by Berklee alumnus Matt Konfirst. A concept album designed to examine the facets of insanity; it runs the gamut from light-hearted abandon to the shadowy world of the misanthrope. The opening track describes a dream set on a chilly autumn afternoon where our protagonist happens upon an old abandoned house in the forest. As he approaches the aging structure, he sees his reflection in a window. The reflection stares back briefly, but then sadly, shaking its head, it turns and walks away and his vision fades leaving him with an empty view of the interior of the house. What could it mean? This vision must mean something. Was it a trick of the eye, some cruel prank? Leaving this scene, he is filled with dread as he ponders the meaning of it all. His demeanor rapidly changes from a carefree young man to a brooding misanthrope. Who can he trust with this dark secret? Who would believe the vision he had? Who would even care? Black shapes flit in and out of the edge of his vision. They haunt him day and night. Where is the reality he once knew? The overwhelming melancholy pushes him into the madness. He can’t escape. The world swirls around him as struggles with this new perspective on reality. He knows he used to be somebody else, but who? Suddenly he thinks he knows, thinks he’s rediscovered that former Eden. In a moment of insight, an epiphany, everything seems to come into focus. The nightmare has apparently faded and he feels free from the chains that have held him down. He celebrates this freedom with wild abandon. It feels so good to be alive. Why had the madness taken him before? It seems so foolish now. That vision and the insight it provided. He must find out what it means. This will be his task in life, to decipher its meaning. It is his obsession, his one goal in life. He pursues it single-mindedly as the world spins out its endless cycles around him. He knows! The black void consumes him! It sucks him down into an endless spiral. He’s screaming the voiceless scream that tears us from our nightmares. He screams until his throat is raw and he can taste the blood. And then he stops. The vertigo leaves him, and from his vantage point he can see the details. It’s so clear now. He’s gained the one thing he never had: the perspective to see it all clearly. The vision was there to show him the way. It was the lack of knowledge and insight that tore the hole in his soul. He knows now what he must do.

Progessive rock with an epic vision from the mind of progressive shredder, Andrew W. Bordoni, and his band "EARTHCUBED".  Featuring the vocal talents of Kristen Lamb, Roman Niziolek on bass and Greg Rapp on drums as well as guest appearances by Matt Konfirst.

Heavy, hard-hitting death metal contianing the touching ballad "Welcome to Your End" and the soul searching epic "Insides Out"!