Icarus Burns – Self Titled

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · Published March 6, 2025 · Updated March 6, 2025

Icarus Burns is a heavy instrumental psych / stoner / metal band from Berlin, Germany. The quartet consists of Tim Corden on guitar, Jens Gehrke on guitar, Axel Kalteiß on bass, and Cristobal Cuadra Bravo on drums. The band released a three song EP in 2021, which features vocals from Eva Bandke. They just released their debut Self Titled album on February 12th 2025, on Feather & Wax Records. It contains six tracks and is about fifty minutes long.

The first single “Minotaur” opens up the album with a bomb! The seven minute song starts out with clean guitars and slowly progresses with the drums and bass joining in. The track erupts into a heavy rhythm after the two minute expansion and varies in some sludgy riffs and illustrious guitar leads. Just after the four minute point, the bass guitar and pounding drum toms directs the song into heavy accents and more filling guitar leads with a cool sample too. The elegance of the playing morphs the tune back into the chugging riffage that was present near the beginning. The track carves in clean and heavy dynamics with such adeptness. “Die Werft” explores similar variations of song crafting brilliance. Clean guitars are integrated effectively with heavy metallic riffs. The music reminds me of My Sleeping Karma and Rotor but not a clone to either band. Icarus Burns can really dig in and grind out the fuzzy rhythms and then in an instant meander into some progressive sounds without any delay or difficulty. The band sounds like seasoned musicians that have all been playing together for decades. Each instrument is connected to making each song as good and expansive as possible.

The third track “Melancholia” is a prime example of just that. Beginning with a light and atmospheric flow, the song then exhibits a heavy and crushing sound. Drifting back into the softer subtleties with tribal drumming with ethereal noise and again exploding into the heavy. “A Distant Light/ In The Darkness” transposes diaphanous musical elegance into the off kilter exploration of heaviness. The sly riffing is enticed in psychedelic prog fashion that is mesmerizing and disturbingly pleasing to the ears. The orderly and sonic chaos is intoxicating to listen to and it works beautifully with the message that the music is prescribing. Icarus Burns has created an alluring soundscape of radiance on this recording. “Tränen Der Sonne” carries on with the supposition and luminosity of sounds. I especially enjoy the trebly and bright bass sound that Axel Kalteiß displays on this album. This song really illuminates its quality. Both guitarists Tim Corden and Jens Gehrke play exceptionally well together also. They really gel together in creating such captivating riffs and melodies. However, without the percussive mastery of Cristobal Cuadra Bravo, Icarus Burns might not sound so enthralling and passionate in their execution. His drumming is utterly incredible on every song, giving each track the proper balance of heavy, dynamic, and softness that is needed.

The final score on the album is called “100 Days”. The psychedelic musical journey of such, is an amazing song on all levels. The band are one hundred percent dialed in by this point and convey another mind bending composition. I love the combinations of lush melodies and hammering rhythms throughout this one. The guitar work is so intricate and varied in every aspect. They file in syncopated off rhythms, screaming leads, and barbaric chugging riffs all over. It’s quite elaborate in its eleven plus minute run time. Icarus Burns were meant to be an instrumental band. This is my first experience hearing this band and I couldn’t imagine them having a vocalist. I need to check out their debut EP, which has singing on it. Icarus Burns are in the big leagues of heavy, psychedelic, and riff-centric instrumental rock. They comfortably sit in the good company of bands like Monkey 3, Rotor, Causa Sui, My Sleeping Karma, 35007, Yawning Man, among others. This is an excellent album of high quality music that demands repeated listens to fully comprehend and appreciate.