Despised Icon strikes again!
Six years after their last album, Alex Erian (vocals), Éric Jarrin (guitar), Steve Marois (vocals), Sebastien Piché (bass), Alex Grind (drums), and Ben Landreville (guitar) announce the release of Shadow Work, their new pride and joy.
We kick things off with Shadow Work, the first track that immediately calls us to battle with its ferocious vocals, angry riffs, and devastating blast beats, but also catchy mosh parts and shrill harmonics to complete the mix. The track quickly gives way to Over My Dead Body, where the six musicians maintain their initial rage, welcoming Matt Honeycutt (Kublai Khan TX) who reinforces the vocal section with a vindictive hardcore touch before giving way to Death Of An Artist, which continues at a brisk pace with persistent lead guitar and striking vocals. The final is much softer, but the reprise with Corpse Pose is all the more violent, adopting an Old School tone to set the stage for screams and harmonics, then the atmosphere darkens on The Apparition, mixing darkness and violence at a furious pace while the two vocalists give it their all. The samples accompany the accelerations and the mosh part perfectly, then Reaper begins with heavy sounds to welcome Scott Lewis (Carnifex) and Tom Barber (Chelsea Grin, Darko US, ex-Lorna Shore) to create a veritable vocal assault that few could resist before moving on to the majestic In Memoriam, where keyboardist Misstiq joins the team. The vocals also diversify a little, but we also note the overwhelming power of the double kick before Omen Of Misfortune hits us in turn, undoubtedly provoking crowd movements equal to its fury if the band decides to play it for us on their next tours. We find the same direct approach on Obsessive Compulsive Disaster, but also a bit of that killer groove that allows the vocalist to hit us with one blow after another when we least expect it, then the short ContreCoeur offers us a minute and a half of French vocals with obvious grind influences. The album already reaches its last track with Fallen Ones, a more moderate composition that favors a rather dissonant, jerky riffing and still offers a slightly softer touch for a refreshing break with oriental influences before coming to an end.
Between tours, Despised Icon has not been idle, offering up Shadow Work, which is perfect for moshing to your heart’s content! The Montreal gang still knows how to deliver when it comes to violence, and we can’t wait to see a show announced near us!
85/100