REVIEW: Icarus The Owl – ‘Icarus The Owl’

February 4th, 2014

Kriston McConnell

Artist: Icarus The Owl
Album: Icarus The Owl
Genre: Alternative rock, post hardcore
Label: Unsigned

As much as I am a fan of metalcore, I also enjoy alternative rock/post hardcore bands (like Hands Like Houses). These bands have tons of energy, and usually have some great lyrical content. Icarus The Owl falls under that category. They are an unsigned four-piece rock/post hardcore outfit based out of Portland, Oregon. Their latest album is their third full-length, which is being self-released like their first two. It’s been two years since their last album, so what’s changed? You may be pleasantly surprised.

If you heard the band’s sophomore release, Love Always, Leviathan, then you will notice a few things right away. First, the band has kept the same guitar style; which you can hear throughout a majority of the tracks. You may also hear that the production of each song is better. Though the vocals did not sound bad on their previous release, there has definitely been an improvement. I think it’s more likely the quality of the production, rather than a change in the frontman’s voice.

“Ignore Check Engine Lights” is the leading track on the album. Though this isn’t the best song on the album, it’s certainly one of the best. As far as the “best” or at the very least, my favorite one, would be “Black Fish.” The guitars don’t stand out quite as much as the first song, but the lyrics are catchy. Everything about this song is captivating.

They reminisce about being young and in love in songs like “In Aeternum.” They know how to write some clever hooks, and this song has a few of them. “Now that we’re both older let’s make love like we’re not supposed to with no curfews // The moments we wished would never pass like two bodies laying in freshly cut grass.” “The Monster Within” easily takes the cake with the best intro. It almost sounds like something you would tango to.

There isn’t a single track on this album that doesn’t either have unique lyrics or a memorable bridge. The album closes out with “The Pharmacist,” In my personal opinion, the very last track on an album should be dramatic. This is a band’s last chance to make an impression on the listener and just sticking in any old song just doesn’t cut it. One example that I can think of that fits this ideal is “Morte Et Dabo,” off Asking Alexandria’s Reckless And Relentless. That song is easily the most brutal song on the album, and it’s over-the-top antics are, in part, the reason why I ended up loving that album. Icarus The Owl’s “The Pharmacist” might not contain lyrics relating to ripping out organs, but relatively speaking, it’s an entertaining eight-minute finale.

On its own, this album is a huge accomplishment. It’s melodic, catchy and has some really great lyrics. The problem is that there isn’t a lot of dynamic in the songs. They are all set up similarly, and it seems the band mostly relies on the lyricism to separate each track. When you compare the album with their first two releases you can hear the similarities. That doesn’t make this a bad album, it just makes it only slightly better than the other albums (which are also good). I’d love to hear them focus on throwing in some surprises into their songs. There is so much they can do with their music, and I hope we see a lot more of them in the upcoming years.

SCORE: 7.5/10
Review written by Kriston McConnell

<a href="http://icarustheowl.bandcamp.com/album/icarus-the-owl">Icarus The Owl by Icarus The Owl</a>