In the year 2004 Icarus Witch was born in the state of Pennsylvania, USA. The band's craft is traditional metal, built on heavy metal including doomy and hard rocking elements, leaving out all modern nonsense. Seriously, music sounding like this could've come out in the 1980s.

'Out for Blood' launches into twin-guitar riffage and bass playing that is very much reminiscent of Steve Harris' style. Add vibrating and high soaring voice onto that. Yep, Iron Maiden and, generally, NWOBHM of early 80s is what the song is all about. Quality! 'Written in the Stars' steps into doomier territory, mixing in stuff à la US Trouble and Englishmen Black Sabbath. Neoclassical acoustics on the beginning of 'The Sky Is Falling' are too scarcely used I think, because by now it's clear, that some of the songs are very, very simple in their structure, and more of such follow later on the album too. Verse-chorus-verse-chorus compositions can't be called as clever at all, but at times work surprisingly well (e.g. 'Out for Blood') and sometimes not (e.g. 'Written in the Stars'). Def Leppard's 'Mirror Mirror' appearing on the fifth spot is kind of weird, but this cover really breathes life into already diluted album. Maybe the visit from Joe Lynn Turner helped... Even though 'Queen of Lies' is a slower song, it keeps up the fire, just as a bit more tentative pieces 'Devil's Hour' and doomier 'House of Usher' do. 'Smoke & Mirrors' is the mandatory ballad of the album, but doesn't trample into saccharine territory. The straighter songs have simpler lyrics, the more happening songs have good, usually horror, stories, like 'House of Usher' for example (by the way, I like the cover artwork!).

Both, rhythm guitar and solo work are ballsy enough, just and just. The aforementioned bass playing is awesome. The high-pitched vocals are a tad too vibrating for my liking, but I can handle 'em. Sounds like a mix between Bruce Dickinson and Vince Neil, with a touch of D-A-D's Jesper Binzer in it... The drums are weak! They sound very flat, very powerless, leaving a lot to be desired. No wonder the bass was lifted so up in the mix. For some reason, the band sound pretty tame, like there was no fire burning in their hearts when this was recorded.

The first half offers more hard rocking pieces, while the latter half more tentative compositions, although still the songs-craft is totally devoid of surprises. The band sound tame for a heavy metal band (except for that hefty bass playing). So, this lacks of balls in adventuring spirit and performance territories, 'Songs for the Lost' ends up being a half-decent album, that is bound to drown in the tides of time.

Rating: 7- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/20/2008 19:07