Ikon- Destroying the World to Save It

Australia's premier gothic rock act is back with another collection of well-crafted songs. Drawing on such influences as early Sisters of Mercy, Ikon's music is grounded in tradition, but the band's clean production style gives these songs a more contemporary feel than you might otherwise expect. Lead vocalist Chris McCarter's singing style is moody but unadorned, giving many of these songs a kind of Mission by way of Ian McCullough sound, and even at their most straightforward, tracks like "Rome" are fine examples of modern goth. It's Ikon's more experimental side, though, that deserves extra attention. With its acoustic guitar strums and creepy whispers, "God Has Fallen From The Sky" combines Death In June verses with a Current 93 chorus, while the finger-picked chords, keyboards and high-pitched female vocals of "Ashes Of Blue" are reminiscent of Kate Bush gone darkwave. Instrumental piece "Slaughter (For the Glory of Christ and the King)" incorporates everything from mournful Spanish brass to layered tribal chanting, while the mixture of spoken word, bittersweet keyboards, and more pop-oriented instrumentation on "The Black Goat of Judas" is nothing if not original. A commendable effort from a reliable talent, this album should appeal to goths everywhere.

Visit the band online at www.ikondomain.com.