In the purest vein of Machine Head, merging thrash, groove metal and hardcore, this over-borders collaborative project involving musicians from Russia, Sweden and Denmark, will release on July 12 via the Chicago, Illinois-based label Goomba Music their second full-length album following their 2009 debut “Human Museum”. ex-Hostile Breed guitarist Dmitry Frans and bass player Konstantin, guitarist Artyom (ex- Reign The Absolute, БeZumnye Usilya) – from Moscow, Russia, Danish drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen (Amaranthe, Mercenary, The Arcane Order, Submission, Soilwork, Hatesphere, Scarve, Instant Carnage) and Swedish vocalist Tony Jelencovich (M.A.N, С-187, ex-Mnemic, Transport League) delivering 12 new, original, strong, killer tracks, already absolute classics of metal themes with cutting riffs, merciless vocals and pumping drums, with roots back to both Testament and Pantera, putting together all the good stuffs and elements which made the metal of the 90s so heavy and powerful.
After Moscow-based based HOSTILE BREED stopped its activity, its mastermind and guitarist D.Frans decided to start realizing the idea he had had for a long time – to establish an international project. It took two months to recruit musicians in Russia and Germany, and already in early 2008, recordings of the first CD started in Denmark’s Hansen Studios under the supervision of renown producer Jacob Hansen (Mnemic, Destruction, Mercenary, Maroon, Raunchy, Amatory). Many guest musicians appeared on the album including Steve Smyth (ex-Nevermore, Testament), Flemming C. Lund (The Arcane Order, Invocator), Andy Solvestrom (Within Y, Evildoer, Cipher System), and Vladimir Vopilov (Hostile Breed).
In early July 2008, ICON IN ME played its first show with the original line-up, opening for nu metal “patriarch†MACHINE HEAD in Moscow.
On May 2, 2009, the album, named “Human Museum” received its worldwide release via prominent German independent label Massacre Records. In Russia, the CD was released by well-known Irond Records. “Human Museum” got critical acclaim from in many metal publications throughout the world. Here are excerpts from some of them Metal Hammer (De) 5/7, Terrorizer (En) 4/5, Metal (De) 8/10, Dark City (Ru) 5/5.
Major Russian label Soyuz Music reissued “Human Museum†in the digipack format with four bonus tracks in early 2010 while the band embarked on a Russian tour (consisting of more than 15 gigs, including a few in Siberia) in March, and opened for Lamb of God in Moscow.
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Promoting the up-coming album, the band posted four free downloads on its web site. Two of the free tracks, “The Quest” and “Tired and Broken”, are from the new album, a remix of “The Quest” by Xe-NONE and a cover of Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen”.
“Head Break Solution” also features guest appearances by Glen Drover (Megadeth, King Diamond), Anders Björler (The Haunted, At The Gates), Rob Guz (M.A.N.), Olof Mörck (Nightrage, Amaranth)
Magnus Söderman (In Rage, Slapdash), Andy Solveström (Within Y, Amaranth, Evildoer, Cipher System) and Oleg Izotov (Trinity, ANJ).
The album was recorded at CBS Studio (Denmark), A-Lab (Moscow), and Grand Recordings (Sweden) and was mixed by Ben Schigel (Chimaira, Drowning Poop, Walls Of Jericho) at Spiders Studio. The mastering duties were carried out by Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Fight, Yngwie Malmsteen, Cynic, Therion).
This is a strong, classy metal release, play it loud and bang your head!
