AYDRA – ICON OF SIN

With a coarsely compressed growls and roars, the lyrical assertions are forthright and at times swing with a Schuldiner or Cavalera-like command. In the fret department the twin guitars symbiotically shred out crushing riffs and obtuse chords while balanced with sublime leads and blinding solos. Working alongside the guitars is an aggressive mid-heavy bass neatly switching with flawless tweaks, pops and fills that would have Tony Choy fans applauding. And challenging the space continuum is some astute drumming traversing thrashy metal beatings to mesmerizing avant jazz trickery and multiple spaces in between. 

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Every track is pillared of equal measure articulating moods and expressions across dark lyrical themes of personal convictions and psychosocial withdrawal. Openers Icon of Sin and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea guide us into some mind-bending territories of excellence and originality that continues right throughout this album. The last few studio tracks really hit home - Lost Time Fury and its shifting movements, the up-tempo Lombardo-Petrozza-like invocations found in Night Drive; and the industrial N.O. RMX V2 is driven by a funking bass, kitschy electronics, and massive beats. While three of the live tracks are songs from other releases, and all four showcase the watertight cohesion of their stage delivery that closes out this sonic experience. 

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Resounding with elements of their contemporaries Atheist, Cynic, Death, Pestilence and notable odes to Kreator and Slayer appearing within their frameworks, Icon of Sin is a mandatory opus of unique dynamics and complex virtues. AYDRA are an exceptional band that combine technical brilliance and emotional depth fused by the fabrics of time and texture to seek boundaries unknown.

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SCORE 9.5/10

Reviewed by glennosp