{"id":21192,"date":"2012-07-25T19:07:02","date_gmt":"2012-07-26T00:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=21192"},"modified":"2013-02-05T16:13:29","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T21:13:29","slug":"icarus-witch-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/icarus-witch-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Icarus Witch | Rise<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"It\u2019s only been two years since the last album from Pennsylvania-based traditional metal outfit Icarus Witch, but a lot has changed. Of the lineup that played on 2010\u2019s Draw Down the Moon<\/em>, only founding bassist Jason Myers and guitarist Quinn Lukas remain. They\u2019re now joined by guitarist Dave Watson, drummer Tom Wierzbicky and vocalist Christopher Shaner. The new blood (and a slick new logo) is in keeping with the music on Rise<\/em>, which marks something of a new direction for the band.<\/p>\n

Rise is Icarus Witch\u2019s fourth full-length album, and if nothing else it was bound to have a different vibe due to the absence of long-time singer Matthew Bizilla, whose unique voice was a key part of the early Icarus Witch formula. Newcomer Christopher Shaner quickly proves to be a more than adequate replacement, with a voice that\u2019s notably smoother, but no less powerful. Musically, there has been a major shift in the band\u2019s sound. Icarus Witch has always played a fairly melodic style of traditional heavy metal, but on Rise<\/em> the melodic hard rock elements take a much larger role. It\u2019s like replacing the Maiden and Priest influence with Rainbow, Scorpions and (very) early Def Leppard. There\u2019s also a more modern rock vibe, especially in the production. They didn\u2019t become Emo Witch or anything, but songs like \u201c(We Are) the New Revolution\u201d and \u201cTragedy\u201d totally have the potential to win over with Black Tide\/Blessed by a Broken Heart fans.<\/p>\n

For the most part, this new direction for Icarus Witch pays off. They\u2019ve changed the formula, but they did so in a way that shouldn\u2019t alienate their existing fans. Songs like \u201cBreak the Cycle,\u201d \u201cIn the Dark\u201d and the title track wouldn\u2019t have been out of place on Songs for the Lost for example, and \u201cPray\u201d is definitely an old school Icarus Witch number. Rise<\/em> is still traditionally-minded metal, and it\u2019s still done very well, with fantastic melodies, killer guitar work, captivating rhythms and strong, steady vocals. Icarus Witch just has more hard rock appeal this time around, and if that brings them some new fans, you can\u2019t say they didn\u2019t work hard for it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been an Icarus Witch fan from the beginning, Rise<\/em> may come as something of a shock. Give it a chance though, and it should prove to be a pleasant one. Beyond those who would normally check out an Icarus Witch album, Rise<\/em> ought to appeal to most fans of melodic rock and heavy metal. Fans of the European melodic rock\/metal hybrid bands like Jaded Heart, Shakra and Pretty Maids in particular should give this one a try. And if you get the chance, be sure to try and catch Icarus Witch on the road this summer with Widow and White Wizzard. You know that\u2019s going to rock!<\/p>\n

Genre: Melodic Rock, Heavy Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nJason Myers (b) (k)
\nQuinn Lukas (g)
\nChristopher Shaner (v)
\nTom Wierzbicky (d)
\nDave Watson (g)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1. The End
\n2. (We Are) The New Revolution
\n3. Rise
\n4. Asylum Harbor
\n5. Coming of the Storm
\n6. Tragedy
\n7. Say When
\n8. Break the Cycle
\n9. Nothing is Forever
\n10. Pray
\n11. In the Dark
\n12. Last Call for Living<\/p>\n

Label: Cleopatra<\/p>\n

Website: www.icaruswitch.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.75\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines – Senior Columnist — It\u2019s only been two years since the last album from Pennsylvania-based traditional metal outfit Icarus Witch, but a lot has changed. Of the lineup that played on 2010\u2019s […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6772],"tags":[336,334,5730],"class_list":{"0":"post-21192","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-arcrvws2012","7":"tag-cd","8":"tag-review","9":"tag-rise"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21192\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}