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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
9
Infected Mushroom
3

Just two years after breaking into the Top 100 as one of the highest new entries in history, the boundary busting psy-trance overlords have finally smashed their way into the elusive number. Infected Mushroom - Amit 'Duvdev' Duvdevani and Erez Eizen - are Top 10 gunners at last.

It's been another pivotal year for the Israeli-born scene figureheads too. Punctuated by a typically breathtaking gig schedule (they average over a three a weekend), the pair enjoyed the limelight of their first DJmag cover after releasing their fifth studio album - 'Vicious Delicious' - earlier in the year.
Having moved to LA over two years ago to "get serious about Infected", break the psy-trance mould and collaborate with major artists, 'Vicious Delicious' constituted their boldest statement yet about their intention to cross-fertilize their psy-trance essence with a diverse range of influences and artists.
Acclaimed underground spitters The Swollen Members appeared on the swirling electronic hip-hop of 'Artillery', avant-garde Latin rockers Kinky added a flamenco urgency to the stadium nu-metal psy-trance of 'Becoming Insane', whilst cult US rock vocalist Brandon McCulloch featured on downtempo Linkin Park-esque ballad 'In Front Of Me'.
"The response was much better than we had hoped," lends Erez. "We always expect a backlash when we stick our necks out. It was a big change for us doing hip-hop but the love we've got back has been amazing."
"It's been one of the best selling Infected albums yet," adds frontman Duvdev.

"We're already half way through our next album," reveals Duvdev, promising the sound to be even more diverse and metal thundered than 'Vicious Delicious'.
"In the last year we've come out of the psy-trance bracket, which is where we want to go," he explains. "We've been playing rock venues, which we're happy about as we never wanted to be categorized. Our aim is to collaborate with the biggest nu-metal artists and vocalists but this will take time."
"We're happy that people come and see Infected Mushroom even if they aren't into psy-trance," adds Erez. "We're always looking to things we haven't tried before."
Fans of their classic psy-trance pulse need not be too concerned though. Already, two of the tracks laid down for their next LP are ferocious psy-trancers - with recent tracks 'Saed' and 'Nine Percent' instigating a full-on reception in their recent live shows.
"There's another track called 'Black Shawarma' which blends cool lyrics with distorted heavy metal guitars," adds Duvdev.

As always, their rampant tour schedule has covered every last corner of the globe with their diary reading like the departure board at Los Angeles airport.
Yet some of their favourite gigs came from the Stateside market where they are becoming an increasingly dominant force.
"The Virgin festival in Baltimore was pretty amazing," beams Duvdev. "We were playing alongside people like The Police, The Smashing Pumpkins and the rapper Matisyaho came on stage unannounced to rap on our set - people went crazy.
"Then there was a recent gig at the Avalon with Roger Krieger from The Doors. To have a legend like that playing with us is just amazing."
"We're getting the most energy from our US shows," admits Erez. "In the UK it can be an old scene for people - they know what to expect. But over here people don't know what to expect, the shows have been a real revelation."

The rest of the year will see the most intense period of touring yet. As well as their debut DJ set at our Top 100 DJ party itself, the pair will play the Loveparade in San Francisco, celebrate 10 years of Infected Mushroom with a colossal party in Tel Aviv featuring Israeli rockstars and dancers, as well as their annual December tour of Brazil.
"We're doing 18 or 19 shows in around a month," explains Duvdev on their South American odyssey. "It's become our spiritual home for December."