Introduction
Today we have our review of the instrumental self-titled album by heavy psych band Icarus Burns! The band are based in Berlin in Germany but have members from all around the globe! The album is out TODAY so make sure to give it some love if you enjoy it. Don’t forget to follow the band on social media too!
Review
Minotaur
I never imagined that my passion for ancient mythology and rock music would intertwine so beautifully, but here we are, ready to embark on this album review with “Minotaur.” This legendary creature, part man and part bull, is said to have dwelled in the heart of a labyrinth on Crete.
The track opens with a haunting blend of sound id normally attribute to a cello or violin, which perfectly merge with the guitar chords. This musical arrangement evokes the long, treacherous journey of the 14 sacrifices as they approached the beast’s lair, filled with sorrow, horror, and a sense of isolation.
When the drums start pounding around the 1:40 mark, I can’t shake the feeling that the twisted maze’s door has closed and the chase is on. The rhythm intensifies, mirroring the quickening of a heartbeat. It’s impossible to overlook how this song showcases the band’s incredible musicianship, with each member perfectly in sync, demonstrating amazing storytelling through their instruments of choice.
At 3:27 in, the guitar riffs, when paired with the bass, give a genuine sense of urgency, suggesting that King Minos’s creature is drawing ever closer. This masterfully heightens the suspense for what lies ahead, featuring an incredible wah pedal like riff. It’s worth noting how effectively the music constructs the atmosphere.
When the sole lyrics of the entire album finally emerge, it feels as though the beast has caught up with the Athenian sacrifices. The intense drop that follows to me captures the essence of the legendary clash between Theseus, (the hero who defeated the beast), and the Minotaur. The intricate fingerwork on the guitar during this segment is truly mind-blowing.
The final section of the song gives me the sense of a new beginning, emerging after a fierce struggle. An intriguing piece of mythology is that Icarus, after whom the band is named, constructed the labyrinth with his father before soaring too close to the sun and ultimately meeting his demise.
Die Werft
The title of this track translates to The Shipyard in English, and one of the wonderful aspects of this instrumental album is that it allows your imagination to roam free, letting you interpret the music in countless ways. The opening of this song brings to mind the beginning of “It’s Not Over” by my favorite band, “Three Days Grace,” immediately capturing my focus. It has a scattering effect, almost disorienting. Once the drums and guitar come in, it transforms into an irresistible foot-tapping and head-nodding monster, with a riff progression that is perfection.
That progression appears to decelerate until about 2:20, when a new, gritty riff kicks in. Compared to the previous track, this song features significantly fewer tonal shifts. The chugging riffs around 5:39, especially when paired with the bass and drums, stand out as a highlight. However, I believe there’s potential to trim some sections of the song, which seems to be a recurring thought I have during this album. This could allow for the inclusion of one or two additional tracks on the album while maintaining the overall duration.
Melancholia
The drums begin at a whisper, gradually swelling into a powerful rhythm. One guitar delicately picks out notes, while the other unleashes a furious barrage of sound in the background. This creates a palpable tension, building towards an exhilarating climax. When it finally erupts, it’s a glorious, fuzzy explosion of pure joy.
This track truly highlights the bass for me, and honestly, I’d love to hear even more of it while toning down the drums and guitars in the middle section to enhance its prominence! Crank up that bass! I get the feeling that this band could produce ten albums, each with a completely unique sound, which is quite remarkable for an instrumental group. The conclusion of the song feels a bit more mellow, mirroring its beginning—it’s like a full circle moment.
A Distant Light / In The Darkness
The song opens with a riff that gets me moving. As the other instruments join in, they weave together a rich, textured sound. However, when it comes to the song title and the track itself, I sense a slight disconnect. Both are fantastic, but I can’t quite grasp why this specific song was assigned this particular title.
The essence of this song lies in its subtle variations; small adjustments here and there create a significant impact on the band’s overall sound. It’s definitely one of my top tracks. If I had to choose a standout instrument under pressure, it would undoubtedly be the drums, which are absolutely phenomenal!
Tränen Der Sonne
Everything blends together so effortlessly, which is incredibly challenging to achieve, yet they make it look so easy! If my face were an emoji, the beginning of this song would definitely have me sporting heart eyes. The English title translates to “Tears of the Sun,” and I think that’s one of the most amazing track titles I’ve ever come across. I may not have any musical talent, but if I did, I would totally use that as a band name!
One of the highlights of the song for me, aside from the intro, is definitely the section from 4:25 to 5:20. It picks up speed with an energetic rhythm from the guitar and bass that really drives the sound forward. The pounding drums complement it perfectly, and that irresistible riff on top just elevates the whole experience. I really wish this exhilarating tempo had carried on instead of tapering off a bit. Just thinking about all the headbanging I’d be doing gives me a headache already, in a good way!
100 Days
Who left the siren blaring? I’m not really into the beginning of this track; honestly, after a few listens, I had to skip it because the first minute is a bit headache-inducing for me. Fortunately, by the time we hit 2:20, the song really starts to shine with some fantastic bass! I’d say this is the most experimental piece on the whole album. The anticipation builds with an amazing drum beat at 3:12, which works beautifully with the other instruments. However, despite all that buildup, the drop I was hoping for doesn’t quite hit as expected. Instead, it surprises us at 5:30, delivering one of the standout moments of the entire album, and that includes Minotaur!
100 days? Perhaps that’s the duration of this track. Clocking in at 11:47, it’s an epic piece, but honestly, if you had given me two songs that were half as long, I would have jumped at the chance.
Final Thoughts
Man is this a great album! This is the very first time I have had the pleasure of reviewing a completely instrumental body of work and I’m seriously impressed. I was pulled in by the links to mythology which is a real interest of mine. But I stayed due to the incredible music on display!
If we could keep the album length at 50 minutes but cut down some of the tracks a bit to leave room for 2 more tracks I think I’d have preferred that a little more. But that is as always the artist’s choice. I can’t wait for this to come out eventually on vinyl!
8/10
All rights to the songs in this review are retained by Icarus Burns. This site claims no rights over them. All photos and images were provided by Icarus burns.
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