https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Ichabod Foresee the End of Days, Not Columbia Pictures’ Release Schedule

Design by regular Obelisk attendee Aaron Edge.Since the third offering from Boston heavy psych aggressors Ichabod was intended for release last year, one can only imagine they didn?t know it would wind up coming out the same month as a John Cusack movie of the same name. I looked back in the archives, and such a phenomenon is a first. No one was nearly as timely with a record called Better off Dead.

2012 follows four years behind 2005?s Reaching Empyrean, and the growth in the band is palpable. There?s still the roots of sludge aggression, but the band have progressed to the point of incorporating more clean vocals and more complex structures. Listening to ?Giving up the Ghost,? the verse riff is undeniably stoner, and the later bridge is straight out of Sabbath?s ?Iron Man? — though put to good use — but Ichabod encase these influences in a multifaceted context that?s bound to surprise more than a few listeners expecting something simple and straightforward.

The album was recorded at Mad Oak Studios by Devin Charette, and the production is crisp and sharp despite some issues with Phil MacKay?s snare drum, which sounds flat compared to what?s around it. Greg Dellaria?s bass is lively and present in the mix, adding much-appreciated thickness to the songs. Dave Iverson?s guitar, rarely appearing in a single layer, is rich and the root of many of 2012?s successes — not to take anything away from Ken MacKay?s vocals, which in their clean incarnation vary between a Facelift-era Layne Staley and a From Bliss to Devastation-style Tim Williams and when screamed come on with an intonation and cadence reminiscent of Devin Townsend?s work in Strapping Young Lad. MacKay?s ability to adjust his approach to the music is a tremendous asset to the band, as a track like their cover Pink Floyd?s ?Nile Song? simply would have been impossible to pull off otherwise.

Check these dudes out. I think that's the cave where Rambo hid in First Blood. (photo by Bruce Bettis)Ichabod appropriately gives the most attention to 2012?s title track, though the final cut on the record, ?2012 Outro? is longer than the song itself, and ?New Year?s Prayer,? which immediately precedes it, is little more than an intro. Once it begins, the song itself starts with feedback and a rumble from Dellaria leading into a sped-up ?Under the Sun? riff and some clean vocals from MacKay prophesying the end of the world and the next stage of humanity?s survival. Contrasted to ?Sleeping Giants,? the album?s opener, which swirled around psychedelic war movie samples, voice over and a bass line that led me to half expect Neil Fallon to start singing about his Dodge Swinger, Ichabod has definitely boosted the energy level for the grand finale, culminating in the repeated screams, clean chanting, samples, guitars electric and acoustic and the line, ?Time will tell in 2012.?

?2012 Outro? is a six and a half minute audio collage centered on endtime religious samples, apocalyptic drones, chanting and other sundry noises. It?s a lot to sit through, probably could have been trimmed some, but is an effective atmospheric ending to 2012 nonetheless, and if you?re already sucked into the mood of the album, which I was by that point, the time passes unnoticed.

I?m not sure of the reasons for the delay with the album, but now that it?s finally seeing release, Ichabod?s latest is a work of dark psych and unloaded madness that simmers with unbridled intensity. Like their live show, it is overwhelmingly heavy, but owing much to the production, not so much so that the individual parts and contributions (flute on ?Gentlemen of the Choir?) are lost. It is a sound balance of intriguing progression and metallic heaviness sure to surprise many an unsuspecting head across the land. Hear it before the world ends.

Ichabod on MySpace

Rootsucker Records

Tags: , , ,

3 Responses to “Ichabod Foresee the End of Days, Not Columbia Pictures’ Release Schedule”

  1. Aaron Edge says:

    ? It was a blessing to do the CD design for this release… great dudes and heavy as hell!

  2. Cortez says:

    Great that this has finally been released. Quality band and quality dudes as well.

Leave a Reply