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Icepick(US) - Violent Epiphany

posted by: David on 1 July 2006

Alveran

This is a first: Alveran sent me an e-mail with a link and username/password to an online promo copy of the Icepick album. Talk about the digital age, huh? Unfortunately I only recently paid attention to the e-mail again, so that’s already a disadvantage for this method in comparison to ‘real’ promos that lay on your desk waiting to be reviewed.

Icepick has a pretty strong Hatebreed vibe: Jamey Jasta on vocals and Frank 3 Gun on guitar, together with Hatebreed’s guitar- playing producer Zeuss. But the coolest thing about this band is definitely Lord Ezec’s return into hardcore. It’s great to hear this guy spitting his lyrics again in the genre where he belongs. Not that Icepick has much to do with Skarhead or Crown Of Thornz, but still. It has the heaviness of Hatebreed, but also the groove of NYHC. Still I have the feeling that Jasta’s vocals are too dominantly mixed into this thing. But maybe that’s just because I want to hear more of Ezec.

The songs are all approximately two and a halve minutes long and they never get complicated, it’s all pretty simple stuff: pounding away with angry lyrics. But I guess that’s the only way to play this type of hardcore, otherwise you’re spilling energy that can better be used on brutal breakdowns and moshable music.

“Violent Epiphany” is an album with a lot of guest appearances. Six guest singers are featured on the record: Ice-T (Body Count), Roger Miret (Agnostic Front), Paul Bearer (Sheer Terror), Freddy Cricien (Madball), Al Barr (Dropkick Murphys) and Pete Morcey (Forced Attack / ex-100 Demons).

It’s hard to determine how many snowflakes this album deserves. On the one hand I want to reward Lord Ezec’s efforts, but on the other hand it’s not really all that spectacular in the end. Still I think that fans of Hatebreed will love this and maybe will show some curiosity towards NYHC and the roots of the music. And I must admit that it’s not like a punishment or anything to listen to this record. Songs like “Real Recognizes Real” and “Violent Epiphany” are good stuff. I only expected more of it based on the all star line-up, I guess.

Rating:

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Related bandprofile: Icepick(US)