This is the debut EP from US metal band Dead Icarus.
What do you get when you throw together the ex-singer of Atreyu and members of Enterprise Earth? Something quite heavy and tasty, apparently. This five track EP has a duration of 23 minutes, and is pretty damn crushing.
I’ve loved the singer’s throaty roar ever since first hearing it back in 2002 on Atreyu’s Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses, so I simply had to check out Ad Infernum when it appeared, unbidden. Here, the vocals sound stronger and more diverse than ever. Ranging from brutal snarls to soaring cleans, and much between, Dead Icarus provides the listener with the full package across its songs.
These songs are well-written slabs of metalcore, taking influence from the likes of Lamb of God, Unearth, etc. and, of course, Atreyu. You can also add Pantera to that list, as the final track on this EP is a storming cover of Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit.
You can easily imagine these songs going down a storm live. They are filled with crowd friendly heaviness, meaty hooks, and catchy choruses. Ad Infernum is heavy, but certainly not one-dimensional. Good riffs, potent dynamics, heavy breakdowns, emotive touches, and charismatic vocals; this is a collection of really strong songs.
Loved it. Simple as that. Nostalgia mixed with a fresh, energetic energy is a powerful combination, and Dead Icarus deliver an effortlessly enjoyable brand of old and new that is just great.
If you’re a fan of metalcore then this is not to be missed.
Wonderbox Metal 