| Pandora
opens the box a second time. |
Pandora opens the box a second
time and finally Hope too can fly out. The metal fan who comes in contact with Xicon's
"box" called "Theogony" will listen to the album a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth time...a sixth , a seventh one
..oh yes, lots of times and pleasure will be free to fly out. "Theogony" combines more than
satisfactorily Industrial feeling with melodic Death metal mood, Modern metal,
Gothic/Electro/Cyber vibes and even some hardcore/Groove Metal clusters.
All in a own style: Xicon has achieved its own dark style summoning many qualities in a wide
spectrum. If this is the debut album, a brilliant future can
be foreseen for this Swiss band from Lausanne. The many influences (we really go from Clawfinger to the Kovenant) meld
each other, leaving an agreeable and forceful scent of rhythmic riffs, effective lead passages
- a bit downtuned but very harmonic
and prickling- strong bass lines, thick fat calibrated drumming, syncopated melodic chords that are
immediately catchy, rocking and addictive. When Xicon relax in sweet rocky melodies,
it gives immediately gas then, returning on the
patterns with a faster and fatter guitar riffing. Xicon is not
brutal , but strong and gripping. The most important thing to discover
is the decent synth factor, which generally is left stronger in intros and outros,
and doesn't steal the scene to the "metallic" guitars. It just
adds tuneful mood and depth. Vocals in clear/semi clear keep a personal
unmistakable dirty rawness; sometimes they express anger, sometimes the
tiredness of this plagued world. And concerning guests, “Pandora”
is enriched by featuring Ludovic Loez' (Supuration/S.U.P.)
apparition at the micro. The skilful instrumentation gratifies the expectations of those who are demanding concerning playing and sound.
In fact, Xicon's line up has a solid knowledge and experience in music indeed, with backgrounds
in Classical music , Rock , Metal and even Funk.
 The
track Ego gives evidence to Xicon's qualities, and is one of the most beautiful and compelling songs from
"Theogony". Ego swings from mid to uptempo in a unique way of insistent
delectation and vicious ambush. All Flesh and Blood is a wonderful song full of emphasis and cadenced ,
riveted pace that shakes the brain. While the rhythmic section is engaged in walls of
Groove- metal- oriented ruffs, a delicate carpet in background underlines the melodic scheme.
Its Ayrton Felkor remix, placed as song number 11, is then a masterpiece,
because, in spite of the heavier pronounced use of electro parts,
it shows the same raw aggressiveness of the original version, becoming darker, mightier and more decadent yet danceable.
Ideal for pleasing Post- Thrashers and, of course, Gothic and Modern/electro
followers and Deathers also. In this song, drumming shows also some tribal echoes,
so the group of victims can be larger. Among the highlights, last but not least, comes
the ballad Pandora (track number 9), so vital, melodic, angry yet sorrowful.
In Pandora you can taste harmonic arpeggios as well as a vigorous double kicking and crushing guitars.
But after all, Spit, Chemical and even more Wastelands and Exit the Line
are likewise valuable songs. The latter is a track that comes out slowly but unstoppable and the more you listen to the cd, the more you definately
dig it.
Share the Bane begins
with a very hammering and rolling intro, followed by a cyber short counterpoint. For the lovers of The Kovenant and
Rammstein. The Eye is another song that grows and grows the more you listen to it.
Its hardcore/cyber lines, united with choruses, let the track explode in a
succeeding approach. The refrain develops a well composed melody,
whereas the rhythm is always pushing with a great bass sound. Well worth to be bought
, this an album you really use (and abuse).
Only opener Protoplaston
undergoes my perplexities, being, in my opinion, not so well inspired as
the rest of the album, and without a true captivating refrain,
despite the delicious intro. However it might be working live. On the other side, this albums conceptually goes around the
Promethean myth, so Protoplaston musically fully cover its task as starting point of a new biochemistry.
Theogony's lyrics are very
interesting, some are reinterpretation and research around the
myths, some others,on the contrary, mirror personal experiences. The production
is very effective, detail- oriented. The work is completed by a good
artwork set.
Hesiod's book "Theogony" is all about gods, Xicon's "Theogony" is all about cool
stuff ...for the gods. Be your own god.
rating:
9/10 14.10.2006
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Xicon:
"Theogony" 