HAUNT "If Icarus Could Fly"

HAUNT

"If Icarus Could Fly"

The upward trajectory of Haunt continues here. When the PR tells you that the record is MASSIVELY anticipated instead of just "highly" anticipated, we know we're on to something. I don't think it was even a year ago that we got the last Haunt effort "Burst Into Flame", so these guys move fast...

They continue very much in the vein of early 80's melodic metal here, a pattern well etched into their previous releases. The speed and energy element has been kicked up here, which makes "If Icarus Could Fly" a superior disc compared to "Burst Into Flame". The opening cut "Run And Hide" is once again the fastest and most aggressive tune, a great way to kick things off. But this time, other tracks come close to meeting that energy: "Clarion", "Winds of Destiny" and the title track are all peppy numbers with some fiery licks. The vocals of Trevor Church are once again very sweet and melodic, not angry or abrasive in the least. I would never call Haunt a pop metal band, but there's a mainstream appeal to the vocal lines and hooks here. This is something the old British bands of the NWOBHM understood well.

"If Icarus Could Fly" is no radical departure, but the songs and the album itself fly by in a painless blur of retro-flavored metallic goodness. There are more and more bands in this vein and I pray to God one of them can break through to mass appeal...if the metal underground will allow it and not crush the band in an orgy of elitist posturing. This is one of the top bands in the retro metal scene.

SHADOW KINGDOM RECORDS

HAUNT