❄ Drifting Through Ice and Fire – The Mood of Infinite
Some albums are more than just collections of songs—they’re sonic landscapes, painting vivid images in the mind. Infinite, Deep Purple’s 2017 album, is exactly that: a cold, metallic world where bluesy riffs collide with progressive rock mysticism. It feels glacial and heavy, yet infused with bursts of warmth that ignite like a flame against an icy backdrop.
The color palette of Infinite is unmistakable: frozen blues, steel grays, deep blacks, and flickers of golden light. From the chilling atmosphere of “The Surprising” to the soaring intensity of “Birds of Prey,” this album takes us on a journey through the void, where time and space feel both infinite and fleeting.
But the album offers even more than its dramatic highlights. “All I Got Is You” is a hard-hitting track filled with despair and tension, carried by haunting melodies and piercing solos. “One Night in Vegas” brings a touch of storytelling flair, a rock ‘n’ roll tale wrapped in a groove-filled arrangement. Meanwhile, “Get Me Outta Here” pulsates with urgency, capturing a sense of escape and rebellion, while “Johnny’s Band” offers a reflective, almost nostalgic journey through the life of a fading musician.
🎵 Infinite vs. Classic Deep Purple – A Shift in Sound
Deep Purple has always been a band of evolution, seamlessly shifting from the hard rock foundation of Machine Head to the grandiose, atmospheric tones of Perfect Strangers and the modern complexity of Purpendicular. But Infinite is something different—colder, more cinematic, and at times almost introspective.
- Unlike the riff-driven explosiveness of Machine Head (1972), where anthems like Smoke on the Water and Highway Star defined an era, Infinite leans into progressive textures and open spaces.
- Where Perfect Strangers (1984) embraced bold, epic choruses and powerful, larger-than-life energy, Infinite feels more subtle, painting its soundscapes with icy tones and moments of unexpected restraint.
- Compared to Purpendicular (1996), which introduced a fresh, modern feel with Steve Morse’s intricate guitar work, Infinite is less experimental but more emotionally evocative, capturing a sense of finality and reflection.
This is not an album chasing past glories—it’s a mature, cinematic statement that stands apart from its predecessors, embracing both progression and nostalgia.
🎶 All I Got Is You – The Coldness of Regret
“All I Got Is You” carries a melancholic weight, a song about desperation and longing, painted with dark blues and purples. The verses feel subdued, wrapped in a cold, metallic atmosphere, while the chorus erupts like an emotional storm. Gillan’s voice captures both vulnerability and power, making this track one of the most poignant moments on the album.
🎨 Colors of “All I Got Is You”:
🔵 Dusky Violet (#4A4E69) – A deep, sorrowful shade, reflecting the song’s melancholic undertones.
🌑 Deep Night Blue (#22223B) – The haunting, shadowy depth of despair.
⚪ Faded Silver (#B0A4A4) – The fleeting echoes of lost love and distant memories.
🎰 One Night in Vegas – Neon Lights and Chaos
A sharp contrast to the album’s darker themes, “One Night in Vegas” is a lively, almost playful track with a classic rock energy. It tells a story of reckless adventure, perfectly suited for the flashing neon lights and high-stakes thrill of the Las Vegas strip. The upbeat groove and Gillan’s theatrical delivery add a cinematic quality to this track.
🎨 Colors of “One Night in Vegas”:
🟥 Neon Sunset (#FF5733) – The flashing lights reflecting off the casino windows.
🟡 Casino Gold (#F1C40F) – The thrill of the game, shining bright in the night.
🟢 Lucky Green (#2ECC71) – The unexpected fortune, or perhaps a trick of fate.
🚪 Get Me Outta Here – A Desperate Escape
This track pulsates with urgency, driven by a relentless rhythm section that feels like a frantic chase through darkened streets. Gillan’s vocals are raw, almost desperate, as if trapped in a cage of his own making. The instrumentation mirrors the chaos of someone struggling to break free, making it one of the most intense moments on Infinite.
🎨 Colors of “Get Me Outta Here”:
🟥 Deep Blood Red (#8B0000) – The urgency and desperation boiling beneath the surface.
🌑 Dark Steel (#2C3E50) – The cold, metallic prison of one’s mind.
⚪ Faded Concrete (#BDC3C7) – The disillusionment that lingers after the struggle.
🎵 Johnny’s Band – The Rise and Fall of a Rock Star
A nostalgic, bittersweet tribute to the highs and lows of rock stardom, “Johnny’s Band” is one of the more storytelling-driven tracks on the album. The lyrics paint the picture of a musician who once had it all but faded into obscurity. There’s a sense of warmth and longing in the melody, making it a heartfelt reflection on the impermanence of fame.
🎨 Colors of “Johnny’s Band”:
🟡 Golden Nostalgia (#DAA520) – The shining moments of success, now just memories.
🔵 Smoky Blue (#708090) – The fading presence of a once-beloved star.
🟤 Faded Rust (#A52A2A) – The wear and tear of a life lived on the road.
🌊 The Surprising – A Shimmering Twilight of Mystery
This track begins like a mirage in the snow—soft, eerie, almost celestial. It builds slowly, revealing itself piece by piece, much like distant light reflecting off a frozen sea. Gillan’s vocals drift over a bed of icy synthesizers before the song erupts into a fiery cascade of guitars, creating an unpredictable, mesmerizing atmosphere.
🎨 Colors of “The Surprising”:
🔵 Icy Blue (#1E3A5F) – The cold, echoing intro, mysterious and weightless.
🌌 Steel Gray (#6D6E71) – The mechanical precision of Don Airey’s keys, shifting the song’s pulse.
⚡ Electric White (#F0F3F5) – The soaring, unexpected instrumental peaks, bright and blinding.
“The Surprising” is the aurora borealis of the album—it shimmers, evolves, and vanishes before you can fully grasp it.
🔥 Birds of Prey – The Fiery Sky Over a Frozen World
Then comes “Birds of Prey”, a song that feels vast and cinematic. This is infinity unfolding, the sky stretching beyond what the eye can see, but it’s not empty—it’s turbulent, full of movement and hidden forces. The chorus soars like a predator hunting through a desolate sky, while the guitars cry out like thunder echoing across the horizon.
🎨 Colors of “Birds of Prey”:
🌑 Deep Midnight (#0A0A0A) – The heavy, brooding bass line that lurks in the shadows.
🔶 Molten Gold (#D79E3E) – The guitar solos, fiery against the ice.
🌫 Smoky Indigo (#443D5A) – The haunting, distant vocals that echo into oblivion.
This song is like standing on the edge of a frozen cliff, watching golden sunlight crack through a stormy sky.
🎸 Roadhouse Blues – A Flickering Fire in the Blizzard
Originally written by The Doors and released on their 1970 album Morrison Hotel, “Roadhouse Blues” is an American blues-rock classic filled with raw, unfiltered energy. Deep Purple’s take on it transforms the song into a colder, yet no less intense interpretation, shifting its barroom swagger into a grittier, harsher landscape.
Where the original had Jim Morrison’s laid-back, boozy charm and a sense of reckless abandon, Deep Purple’s version is hardened by decades of experience, with Gillan’s vocals bringing a sense of weariness and grit, as if trudging through a frozen wasteland rather than a hazy dive bar.
The harmonica howls like the wind against a frozen highway, while the steady groove stomps forward like boots crunching through the frost. The contrast between the original’s warm, whiskey-soaked haze and Deep Purple’s icy reinterpretation adds an entirely new dimension to the track.
🎨 Colors of “Roadhouse Blues”:
🔥 Ember Red (#B82601) – The growling, whiskey-soaked energy of Ian Gillan’s voice.
🌙 Shadow Black (#1B1B1B) – The deep, pulsing rhythm section, always lurking.
🟠 Rust Orange (#9C5A2E) – The reckless, stomping groove, full of smoke and grit.
A neon-lit bar sign flickering in the cold night, a worn-out jukebox blasting dirty blues—this is the warmth of “Roadhouse Blues.” Yet in Deep Purple’s hands, it feels more like a bonfire struggling against an approaching blizzard.
🔁 Infinite – A Journey Without an End
From the icy vastness of “The Surprising” to the stormy sky of “Birds of Prey” and the blazing fire of “Roadhouse Blues,” Infinite is an album that takes us through cold isolation and raw energy. The album’s other tracks, from the anthemic “All I Got Is You” to the playful storytelling of “One Night in Vegas”, add variety, showcasing Deep Purple’s ability to evolve while staying true to their rock roots.
While it doesn’t seek to replicate past glories, Infinite acknowledges Deep Purple’s past while looking toward the unknown. It’s an album that feels like a farewell, yet at the same time, a continuation—one that embraces both the warmth of nostalgia and the vastness of what lies ahead.
🎧 What colors do you see when you listen to Infinite? Let us know! ❄🔥🎶