Search - Icepick :: Violent Epiphany (Bonus CD)

(3.5 stars) A fairly satisfying dose of old-school hardcore

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 05/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jamey Jasta is very active nowadays. In addition to fathering a six year old, he tours with, handles the vocal parts, produces the music videos, writes most of the music and all of the lyrics for his main band, the Connecticut-based hardcore outfit, Hatebreed (who have a new album, called "Supremacy," due out in August). But, in his spare time Jasta hosts MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball," runs his own record label (Stillborn records), signs bands like The Autumn Offering to the label, nurtures other bands' careers (like Agnostic Front), produces albums from bands like Sworn Enemy and Voice Of Reason. Jasta also finds time to do vocal cameos on albums by bands by Sepultura, Terror, Agnostic Front, Catch 22, rapper Necro, Napalm Death, and Ill Nino. That should be enough, right? No; not for this 27-year old. Jamey has also recently created two side projects (The Icepick and Kingdom Of Sorrow). Indeed, this is one busy dude!



Kingdom Of Sorrow, a band with Crowbar guitarist Kirk Windstein, has their debut album later this summer, but The Icepick have already made their mark on the world. "Violent Epiphany," which was released in April, sees Jasta's longtime friend, Danny Diablo, sharing the vocal duties with him.



After listening to "Violent Epiphany," one can't help but wonder why Jasta felt the need to make this album. The Icepick was advertised as being more melodic than anything Jasta had made before, but this disc clearly doesn't have a single melodic aspect to it. In fact, this album has almost the exact same qualities as the average Hatebreed record, so some of these songs simply sound like Hatebreed outtakes.



But "Violent Epiphany" does have a few attributes which you won't find on almost any Hatebreed song. In addition to creating a double barreled vocal onslaught and featuring several guest vocalists (i.e. Ice T, Dropkick Murphey's, Agnostic Front, and Sheer Terror), these songs have more of a "bare bones" production, making them sound more old-school.



Aside from the guitar solos in "Creations Of Chaos" and "This Can Never Be Undone," this album is about as hardcore as hardcore gets. On many of these songs, such as the blistering "Nothing Without Loyalty," Jasta's vocals sound as livid as they've ever been; the drums are thumping and cracking; and the guitars pound out fast, low-string, churning riffs.



There isn't a single bad song on here. From the pounding and buzzsaw attack of the opening "Devotion Measures Strength" to the appropriately titled door closer, "Born To Crush You," This album is twelve raw, raging, walloping kicks to the head. "Tomorrow Is Not A Promise" and "This Can Never Be Undone" pack an especially visceral, explosive impact. The former puts two shout along refrains (one is of the title phrase, and one is "tonight we live like there's no tomorrow!") on top of slamming, lumbering power chords; and the latter is backed by a scorching, crushing rhythm and bulldozing riffs.



Some of this album is even kind of catchy. "Bitter Twisted Memory" has several memorable bellows of "nothing for the memories!", and "Real Recognizes Real" features the cameo by Ice rapper Ice T, so it kind of sounds like a Biohazard song.



In short, this isn't a great album which had to be made (it isn't all that different from Hatebreed); but if you think hardcore metal has become more metal and less hardcore over the past few years, this disc will make you think otherwise. "Violent Epiphany" is the best hardcore album of 2006 so far, an essential buy for fans of this genre, and a great snack to whet our appetites for what's to come from Jamey Jasta in the future."

Brutal

Matt | 04/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this CD up yesterday and it is unreal. I have already listened to it three times, and it just gets better. This CD is in your face from start to finish. Jamey Jasta's and Lord Ezec's vocals are awesome together. Zuess's guitar work is simple, but unrelentingly brutal."real recognizes real" is worth the price of the CD by itself, but there are 11 other bad ass songs that will all blow you away. If you are a metal or hardcore fan you should get this CD today."

F the naysayers

Michael J. Schaub | 09/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sure, it's an excuse for Jamey to do... more of what he always does. Since most hardcore is fairly similar musically, you've basically got a Hatebreed album. A Hatebreed album that is slightly more aggressive musically. And a Hatebreed album that is slightly more fun and adventurous. This album takes what little room their is to move around in hardcore and takes full advantage. It's also an excuse to gather Jamey's buddies to join in on the fun. That's definitely not a bad thing here. All in all, it sounds like a hardcore album in which no one was trying to hard to make the "right" record or an "important" record. Instead they just had fun with it, and that is reflected in the end result. I'll be spinning this one more than Supremacy, that's fo shizzle. Do not let the few people dissing it deter you from at least checking out a song or 2. You'll totally miss out."