-- XICON's second album MONUMENT is out ! --
‘Monument’… The name XICON chose for their second album might sound vain and self-important. Yet it reflects perfectly the creation and earthquakes caused inside the band, before this second record could see the light.
After their critically acclaimed debut ‘Theogony’, released in 2006, the Swiss metallers set to the writing of new material, focusing on the essential: heavier riffing, darker songs, catchier loops… With higher standards and expectations, cracks appeared in the edifice. Bassist and founding member Al was dropped off the line-up during the writing process, whilst drummer and songwriter Tom called it quits right after the mixing was done.
Despite the turbulences the band went through, ‘Monument’ is at long last ready to be unleashed, displaying ten stormy pounding jewels of industrial melodic death metal. Richer and more complex song-writing, modern electronic touches, thrashy riffs, scorched vocals and deep lyrics are the trademark for this second album that will no doubt pierce the skull of Dark Tranquillity or Deathstars fanatics. With his effort, the band managed to blend in a unique fashion a large spectrum of influences ranging from classical thrash metal, Swedish death metal, prog, cold wave, electronic and even rock music.
To ensure the most memorable result, XICON turned again to producer Pat Aeby (former Krokus drummer), while the mastering was done by none other than Mika Jussila in the Finnvox Mastering Studios in Finland (Finntroll, Sentenced, Nightwish…). Cover and artwork were designed by Seth Siro Anton (Moonspell, Paradise Lost, Septic Flesh…) who managed to add a unique and gloomy atmosphere to ‘Monument’.
‘Monument’ will also include a tremendous remix crafted by Drop (Sybreed, MXD).
Note that the first 100 to buy ‘Monument’ will get a free hand-numbered bottle of La MonumentALE, artisanal ale (Witbier or Irish red ale) brewed by the band itself.
