Illusive Mind Gypsy Crew has come a long way since their inception just a few short years ago.

Starting out as a duo of aspiring musicians, Illusive Mind has evolved into a virtual arts collective, enlisting visual media magic-makers, fledgling artists, theatre students and musicians of all kinds to join their ever-growing Crew.

The band will release Vagrant Moth III, the final entry of its Vagrant Moth Trilogy, on Saturday, Nov. 28 at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church. The event will feature over 20 guest musicians taking on nearly every instrument imaginable, from digeridoos to violins. The event will even include an appearance by a trained opera singer.

Vagrant Moth III may be the Winnipeg metal-folk band’s most ambitious release yet, as well as its most professionally produced.

“We were gonna make another [do-it-yourself] album, but then we [suddenly] came into a thousand dollars,” smiled guitarist-vocalist Todd McDougall, relaxing at one of the band’s many Winnipeg haunts.

“Once we got the three core songs down, we were ready,” chimed Terrell Froese, the band’s triple-threat drummer, vocalist and violinist. “This record was created with more confidence.”

While Illusive Mind has enjoyed a veritable revolving door of musicians since its inception, Jaymez, the band’s main visual design artist, said that this album is more refined, whereas their last album together (Vagrant Moth II) was a much less concise effort.

“The last one was more rural, this one’s urban,” added Froese.

McDougall said that the band’s focus has always been to remain mindful of their surroundings.

“[The band took a] journalistic approach toward large aspects of the world and lives around [us]. How we record, how [the album] looks, how it feels all has to do with that,” McDougall said.

“We’re making a heavy metal folk tale,” added Jaymez.

Communal, do-it-yourself, mythopoeic art-metal sounds like a mouthful, but the band takes it all in stride.

Bassist Dan Trupp said that his favourite part of the band is the collective effort put into the ever-changing product.

“One of the [band’s] strongest aspects is how many things are happening and how it comes together. There’s a wall of sound and atmosphere that builds up, and it just pushes the music,” McDougall said.

Published in Volume 64, Number 13 of The Uniter (November 26, 2009)