Icon of Evil - Locust Cathedral

Angry Metal Guy

I’m a sucker for Polish delicacies like pierogis, kielbasa, cabbage rolls, and death metal. With acts like Vader and Decapitated plowing the memory gardens so wonderfully over the years, the country has become a hotbed of brutish thuggery. Icon of Evil is a lesser-known entry in this Pole race. They released their Syfilis Mentalis debut way back in 2013 but failed to follow it up until now. Locust Cathedral delivers that Polish sound, offering nods to Vader and later-era Behemoth paired with influences ranging from legends like Morbid Angel to Deicide. They bring a typically Polish blackified edge to the slaughter but this is very much a knuckle-dragging slab of pounding, pummeling death designed to put you in the ground for keepsies. But can Icon of Evil do enough to stand out amid a crowded field of frightful fiends?

Based on the righteous title track, yes they can! “Locust Cathedral” erupts from the soil with icy blackened tremolos flaying all the flesh in sight and before you know it, big, stomping death grooves arrive to blast your ass into assdust. There’s a lot of Vader in the overall sound profile, but you’ll hear plenty of other influences as the assault drills into your skull meat. This track got me amped up and dreaming that I stumbled on an unexpected gem, which in December is rarer than a kind word from crusty, cranky ass Doc Grier. “Verge of Collapse” is equally forceful, hitting that sweet spot between pure death fury and blackened insanity. The vocals veer wildly from guttural croaks to Dani Filth-esque screams and extremity is the watchword. Riffs come in punchy bunches and massive grooves roll over your melon without looking back. “Cursed with Oblivion” effectively cross-pollinates Deicide with Vader and throws in some Marduk for extra fuck you. I appreciate this kind of shit.

Icon of Evil know they can’t travel at Mach 10 forever and keep things interesting so they throw in some curve balls like “Colossus,” which is a mid-tempo meatgrinder with Bolt Thrower-style riffage that crunches along inexorably. It’s less massive than the opening salvos but it still delivers a satisfying beating. Unfortunately, things get a bit less consistent after that. “Creeping Corruption” goes for a weird ritualistic vibe that kind of works, but the song drags toward the end. “Depths of Scorn” is a savage thrasher sure to leave marks, but closing Amebix cover “Chain Reaction” is nearly 7 minutes and feels disconnected from the mood and vibe of the album.¹ At a trim 40 minutes, Locust Cathedral moves briskly and avoids sounding too one-note. The production is sharp and the guitars have a lot of grime, grit, and bite.

This is a very riff-forward outing and that works in Icon’s favor. Jumping between stout, loutish death leads and shrill blackened terms, Kamil and Rapidfire deliver a rigorous beating regime to the listener. The title track is especially packed with six-string fireworks and “Depths of Scorn” is kinetic murderdeath of a high caliber. Marcin Hendzlik appears to be the sole vocalist, so his ability to effectively pair deep, powerful death roars with insane blackened rasps is doubly impressive. He often reminds of a youthful Glen Benton and he elevates the insanity on every track. This is a seasoned, talented crew and when things gel, they burn shit down convincingly.

Locust Cathedral is a good death metal album that threatens at times to be very good. A few misfires bring the whole back to Earth, but this is a fugly little bone duster full of intense noise. It also partially fills the sizeable void left by Vader, which is a needed service these days. All in all, Locust Cathedral leaves me impressed enough to keep one good eye peeled for the next Icon of Evil release if there is one. Worth investigating for death heads and Poleophiles.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Selfmadegod
Website: facebook.com/icon.of.evil.stenchmetal
Releases Worldwide: December 6th, 2024

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