Icarus Witch: Rise

US minnows bare their fangs.

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Icarus Witch have spent almost a decade fine-tuning a style that combines the best elements of commercial hard rock and heavy metal. Enabled by the killer pipes of new vocalist Christopher Shaner, the Pennsylvanian quintet’s fourth release is their most accessible.

Coming Of The Storm contains some Maiden-esque galloping basslines from Jason Myers, who paid attention when his band acted as Paul Di’Anno’s backing musicians on a US tour.

Icarus Witch mutate an encyclopedic knowledge of the Dokken, Judas Priest and Queensrÿche back catalogues with the modern rock suss of Sixx A.M. or Black Tide. However, it would be an act of gross foolishness to pigeonhole them as guileless imitators when Rise offers such maturity and class, not to mention great songs.

Dave Ling

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.