Icarus Witch is a bit of a hard group to pigeonhole.  For one, even though they could be dumped into the traditional metal category, the mysticism pervading their albums hints at the notion that something else is at play behind the music, something you can’t quite hear, but can feel instead.  This sixth sense, combined with an utterly 1980s rock attitude, keeps Icarus Witch from being bound to one genre, though they are considered by many to be instrumental members of the new wave of traditional metal.  New album Draw Down the Moon, the last to feature the love-em-or-hate-em vocals of Matthew Bizilia, draws from 2007’s Songs for the Lost while taking a darker, more sinister path.

With opener “Black Candles,” it’s immediately obvious that Icarus Witch is riding a heavier wavelength this time around.  The lighthearted atmosphere has dissipated, and a more somber group presents themselves.  Deep, dark subject matter surfaces.  “Aquarius Rising” keeps the ball rolling, with a tempo and feel that lie somewhere between melancholic and malicious.  The gang-style vocals used previously in Icarus Witch material to relay an exuberant vibe now echo pain or rage, and Bizilia’s cries in general sound angrier.  The moody “Funeral Wine” displays some truly haunting melodies and soloing.  Others, such as “Haunting Visions,” “Draw Down the Moon” and “Reap What You Sow,” give a rockin’ proto-metal vibe.  All in all, the classic ‘Witch elements are there, only seemingly turned inside out to display something earthier, something more primal, something a little more evil.  The guys also do a lithe cover Judas Priest’s “The Ripper,” forming it into their own creation.

Like the title of their debut album implies, Icarus Witch is adept in capturing the magic and turning it toward listeners.  They’ve got the right blend of metal and rock sensibilities to appease fans of both genres simultaneously.  There’s also something sexually charged about them that appeals to me as a woman, but don’t hold it against me.  Perhaps Draw Down the Moon is best enjoyed while reading a spell book by candlelight, a glass of wine at the ready.  Or, if you’re not into that sort of thing, pop it in anytime you’re in the mood for a bit of a preternatural experience.

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