Iconic - Second Skin

[Stefan]

 

Album out June 17 through Frontiers.

Press release:

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the formation of an exciting new hard rock group, Iconic. Featuring Michael Sweet (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), Marco Mendoza (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums), and Nathan James (vocals), Iconic is primed to set the hard rock world on fire! Michael Sweet, known for his work as guitarist/vocalist for the legendary heavy metal band Stryper and his solo work, with his instantly recognizable voice and guitar style is really a name that needs no introduction to the hard rock faithful. Joel Hoekstra, currently of Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is one of hard rock’s premiere guitarists, whose fretwork is regularly praised and admired. Marco Mendoza’s resume really speaks for itself (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, The Dead Daisies, Journey) and the legendary bassist shines, as he always does, here. Tommy Aldridge, currently of Whitesnake, has also played with Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent, and Black Oak Arkansas, among others, and is considered one of the great hard rock drummers of all-time. And handling lead vocals is none other than Inglorious’ Nathan James, a young man whose vocal style is a fitting, proper descendent of rock’s vocal legends of the ’70s. Sweet and Hoekstra handled the bulk of the songwriting. 

Co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (he and Sweet produced the album together) contributed vocal melodies and keyboards. James also contributed songwriting to two tracks. While the concept of record labels putting together ‘supergroups’ has been around for decades, Frontiers Music Srl has, over the course of the past decade or so, really established a thoughtful, enthusiastic approach to the practice. Revolution Saints, The End Machine, Black Swan, Sweet & Lynch, Sunbomb, W.E.T., and Nordic Union are just a few examples of bands that have landed with great acclaim. The artists get to enjoy the opportunity to write and create music outside of the confines of their ‘day job’ and fans get the opportunity to hear even more new music from their favorite artists. Iconic seems sure to be yet another winner!

 

Tracklist:
1. Run (As Fast As You Can)
2. Ready For Your Love
3. Second Skin
4. All I Need
5. Nowhere To Run
6. Worlds Apart
7. All About
8. This Way
9. Let You Go
10. It Ain’t Over
11. Enough Of Your Love

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by Stefan

[auslander]

Interesting having Sweet as a guitarist and not lead vocalist. Let's hope ADV has his excesses reigned in. Looking forward to checking this out.

[tobi is an animal]

I was originally out on this with Sweet involved as I figured his vocals would ruin it for me; so it's good to hear James is doing the vocals.  Sweet/Hoekstra writing the songs should work in the albums favor as well. 

I don't understand why Sweet needs ADV to help produce it though; and ADV only has one vocal melody so hopefully it's only half of that melody on one song.  Frontiers is truly fucked in the head when it comes to ADV, and having him have some kind of credit on 85% of their albums.

Edited April 20, 2022 by tobi is an animal

[lettard]

2 hours ago, tobi is an animal said:

it's good to hear James is doing the vocals.

So long as he doesn't over sing lol

[The Rocker]

I will give it a shot of course, but I'd rather have a different vocalist.

Edited April 20, 2022 by The Rocker

[Stefan]

New video for 'Nowhere To Run'.

 

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by Stefan

[The Rocker]

Actually sounds pretty good!

[melodicrock]

Ok tune...but not a lot of personality considering all involved. 

[The Rocker]

Great song

[tobi is an animal]

I found the song to be lacking in the hook/melody department.

[whiplash1972]

I’m tempering my expectations for this one, like with any Frontiers “project”, but I think “Nowhere to Run” is actually pretty damn good, and look forward to hearing more. 👍

[lettard]

Yeah that is better than I'd expected 

[AlphaMale]

It's not bad.

[AlphaMale]

This always keeps me away: Co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (he and Sweet produced the album together) contributed vocal melodies and keyboards.

[Glen]

Good solid hard rock track, reminds me of the last Black Swan album which is a good thing 

[Glen]

6 hours ago, AlphaMale said:

This always keeps me away: Co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (he and Sweet produced the album together) contributed vocal melodies and keyboards.

I don't mind that, as long as he's not writing the songs or singing 

[Mr.AOR]

Yeah i like that, love the guitar sound (nice) but damn that riff really sounds like something else, i just can't think what though.

[Jez]

Good song, great vocal.

[Stefan]

New video for 'Fast As You Can'.

 

 

[Stefan]

New song 'All I Need'.

 

 

[Jez]

Very good, solid album indeed. Joel Hoekstra and Nathan James are the standouts on this. Lots of Whitesnake influenced goodness. A big thumbs up from me

[lettard]

23 minutes ago, Jez said:

Very good, solid album indeed. Joel Hoekstra and Nathan James are the standouts on this. Lots of Whitesnake influenced goodness. A big thumbs up from me

Yeah for me the 2nd half of the disc has quite a lot of a Whitesnake sound and I liked that side of them better,thats not to say I didnt enjoy the first half also,good disc overall

[Stefan]

Full album stream:

 

 

[heavyharmonies]

Gunna be the naysayer on this one. It's ok, but nothing special. Another paint-by-numbers "supergroup". It's not bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but nothing grabs me. *shrug*

[tobi is an animal]

take me down to mediocre city.