Icon In Me – Head Break Solution (Goomba Music)
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Icon In Me is metal enigma. They are like everything you’ve heard before, yet there is a freshness about their sound. They are Moscow based, but boast Danish and Swedish backgrounds as well. They also rock an American influences in their sound. They are hardcore, thrash, and melodic death metal, and yet none of these is a fitting label. They are a modern metal band, blending elements of the various sub genres, to create a rich and blistering metal conglomerate.
Head Break Solution represents the band’s sophomore album, and their first fro Goomba Music. Their previous effort, 2009’s Human Museum was released on Massacre Records. Of course one might wonder why they are not still with Massacre, but if the answer doesn’t seem to be the music.
Anytime a band boasts an aresenal of guest musicians there are two schools of thought. One, that the band isn’t strong enough to stand on its own merit, or two, they are impressive enough that others want to be a part of it. Given the plethora of talent possessed by the members of Icon In Me, the latter seems more likely.
The band is fronted by vocalist Tony ‘JJ’ Jelencovich (M.A.N., C-187, Mnemic, Transport League), who uses both harsh and clean variances in his performances, while usually settling somewhere north of coarse. One of the band’s signature elements comes by way of the exceptional dual guitar attack of Dmitry Frans (Hostile Breed) and Artyom Sherbakov (Reign The Absolute). Holding down the back end is bassist Konstantin (Hostile Breed) and skin pounder Morten Løwe Sørensen (Submission, Hatesphere, The Arcane Order, Amaranthe, Scarve, Instant Carnage, Strangler, Scarve, Soilwork).
As for the guests, how about; Glen Drover (Megadeth, King Diamond), Anders Björler (The Haunted, At The Gates), Rob Guz (M.A.N.), Olof Mörck (Nightrage, Amaranthe), Magnus Söderman (In Rage, Slapdash), Andy Solveström (Within Y, Amaranthe, Evildoer, Cipher System), and Oleg Izotov (Trinity, Anj).
The album opens with a wall of building aggression on the intro Suicide World”. This gives away to the hammer to face pulverizer, “Wasted Ways”.
Track List:2. Wasted Ways
3. Face It
4. The Quest
5. Un-Slaved
6. Lost for Nothing
7. Flood Kills
8. Nuclear Drama
9. Tired and Broken
10. Through the Sights
11. Aspects of the Unknown
12. Solid Child
The album was recorded at various locations and mixed by Ben Schigel (Chimaira, Drowning Pool, Walls Of Jericho). Mastering duties were aptly handled by Maor Appelbaum (Sepultura, Halford, Yngwie Malmsteen, Cynic).
Head Break Solution spans from wrecking ball brutality to atmospheric epicness. The album is well produced and mixed, and sonically there’s something here for just about every genre of metalhead. Icon In Me is a band built to push boundaries and break rules, and they done that to full effect on Head Break Solution. Usually with success, and in a few cases left wanting. But the effort alone is worth the listen. There’s plenty here to like for everyone, even if you don’t like it all.
Rating 7.3/10
