EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: Alfonso Conspiracy - 'The Explicit//The Exploited' Album Track by Track

We have ALFONSO CONSPIRACY, the savage new project fronted by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Max James, who drops his powerful debut album, The Explicit//The Exploited, on Friday 5th December. Max exclusively talks about the record and gives us this unique track by track breakdown:

“The Explicit//The Exploited is an album of two halves, literally. After years of re-releasing old songs, remixes and different projects, it came to taking the next step with Alfonso Conspiracy. I wanted to stare at the two things that have impacted me most in the eyes. I address trauma, play devil’s advocate and tell my story all in one. It is something I genuinely struggle listening to from start to finish, and wanted that feeling to come through not only with the lyrics but within the music also.

Viral Infection

"Viral Infection sets the theme both musically and lyrically. I like the idea of never really knowing what’s in store for you pressing play on my music. Predictability sells too well, and is boring, so I did the opposite of my last record. You’re immediately uncomfortable and unsure what you’re listening to, and there is no beat or rhythm, til there is, then you’re smacked across the face…musically of course."

Chimpanzee

"I love when music builds tension and energy to just strip it all away again. It makes the highs feel higher, and the lows lower, and keeps things tense and uneasy. Chimpanzee takes all the momentum away, to build it up again. This is an angry song. It's sort of what you want to shout in the face of that person, you know who, but you know they’re not worth the effort. A more Nu Metal inspired Alfonso song, very dark and very mean.'

Neglect//Harass//Silence

'This is the first track I released, and it wasn’t always gonna be part of this record, but it fit the theme pretty perfectly. During the process of creating this record my family's life was turned upside down by a national company. Its haunting to know how much corruption, greed and foul play goes on when you turn your cheek. All the hurt and anger through this time was injected into this song, and I don’t think it hides a whole lot to the imagination.'

[pathogen]


“I’m pretty sure I wrote the basics of this song in lockdown 2020…which is pretty crazy. I’ve sadly spent my life a victim of a rumour or two. Some are a lot funnier than others. I learnt to keep my cards tattooed to my chest, so people have always liked filling in the blanks, and said people can have a pretty fucked up imagination. It’s interesting seeing how fast it spreads, truth or not people love some gossip, forgetting the damage it can do. Watching a lie go round is like watching a virus spread through people like wildfire, it’s kinda crazy…kinda gross…that being said, [pathogen] is a super fun song and one I can’t wait to play live.'


{transmit}


'There's a couple songs on this record that I’ve always wanted to make, and this is one of them. It’s an absolute vibe and it was so fun to make. It sort of feels like laughing at the pain. The ultimate downfall of my career has been and will likely continue to be my utter disdain for social media. I don’ t think there is enough good in the world it could do to counter the damage it has done to us, and this is the main theme here. I find trends insulting and I find influencers laughable, so I don’t hold back I guess."


Vi/syntheticdzs


"This song acts as the bridge between the two halves of the record. It is probably the last thing I worked on during the main process of creating this record. It is an interlude worth putting on a playlist, bursting with resentment, creepy and heavy, basically everything Alfonso is thrown into a boiling pot. It sets the scene for the next few songs. Trauma is something that changes something forever, and it hurts my heart to say it’s something that is best being faced. That’s what I believe anyway. I wish it would disappear, but I know it won’t."


Chameleon


"This is the darkest song I’ve written. Music is a therapy, what I can’t say or can’t face become my songs. I face trauma with eyes wide open in this song. There’s not much to say that isn’t said in the song, and I don’t think I can discuss the topic on any media platform. It’s heavy, creepy and intense, a direct insight into the darkest part of my mind, and the darkest part of my past."





WHORE

"This song is relentless, I push my ability as an instrumentalist, vocalist and lyricist to its limits here. It has numerous layers to it. Looking at exploitation in the industry, my past and people I have known, and what they have done. I have never shied away from talking about taboo subjects. I’m an artist and walls don’t manage to keep me secluded, instead they make me want to break out of them, not hold back, and tell my story directly. The world is a vile place and I see it as my job to showcase that. I took a lot of influence from Ministry and Slipknot with this song, some influences I often overlook creatively."

Deeper than that…


"Sex sells, and lately with the rise of baddiecore or whatever you wanna call it. But sex can be a dark alluring thing too. This song can be seen at face value, as a sexy song that is also kinda gross and kinky, or you can read past it and be horrified. Your call. But this is my favourite song I’ve made I think. It is a classic example of holding nothing back and ultimately forgetting it’ll be for public consumption eventually."

THE GREAT PLAGUE

"I remember someone telling me once that the last song on an album was the most important, and should be the best. So I put all my effort into making the most Alfonso song with the most exciting crescendo possible, whilst still throwing in twists and turns. It is the anthem and an epilogue to the album. I accept the world is fucked, and everything discussed on this album gets thrown onto a fire to light a cigarette with. None of it is gonna get better, none of it is gonna go away, so I face it head on and push through”.

'The Explicit//The Exploited' is out 5th December 2025.

For more on Alfonso Conspiracy, see https://linktr.ee/Alfonsoconspiracy

Check out another feature, where Alfonso Conspiracy reveal 5 songs that influenced them here:
https://www.madaboutrock.co.uk/2025/11/exclusive-feature-alfonso-conspiracy-5.html