From Frontiers Music Srl press release: ICON OF SIN is a project created, overseen and directed by Serafino Perugino President and A&R director of Frontiers Records and is excited to announce the new project centered around the vocal talents of the popular Brazilian YouTube sensation Raphael Mendes and his jaw dropping vocal covers. His recognition as one of the hottest new talents in metal started in 2016 when he was invited by guitarist Fabio Lima to record a YouTube video that wound up going viral... One of the things that made Mendes' reputation grow considerably happened earlier in 2020, when a video series called “What if Bruce Dickinson sang in other bands” was launched. This is going to blow fans of IRON MAIDEN, DIO and BLACK SABBATH away! "Music is my passion, a way of life!” says Raphael Mendes. "It’s really been and continues to be a  fantastic experience, working on the ICON OF SIN album. The songs are so powerful and it has awakened something in me that I haven’t felt for a long time from a heavy metal album!” This is their second full-length album “Legends” released on August 4, 2023, so with all the pre-game hype, I’ll go into this review expecting to be “blown away”.

The album opens strong and powerful on “Cimmerian”, and yes, immediately the Bruce Dickinson vibe and sound is present and forthright. A pretty straight forward classic metal riff backs up nicely and a rocking guitar solo peak as the song progresses. It will be hard not to emulate IRON MAIDEN moving forward with the vocal likeness, so we’ll see how they create their own personality. Track two “Night Force” actually comes in with a more aggressive approach and more guitar dominated than the previous song highlighted by a fierce solo and galloping riff and melody. “Heart of the Wolf” gets back to the MAIDEN sound vocally and even more musically with their signature riff. The only thing missing on this song is an appearance from Eddie. After five songs the similarities are noticeable as are a handful of differences and this is not a negative aspect of ICON OF SIN or Raphael Mendes, they so far have delivered a high caliber, brawny heavy metal experience stacked full of classic and traditional riffs, licks, chops, melodies and lyrics, so as I continue on with my review, we’ll all agree they sound like IRON MAIDEN and we’ll put that behind us and concentrate on the band’s music, agreed? Good, let’s move on. “Bare Knuckle” is a raw and savage laden riff powered by devilish vocal layering keeping an electrifying pace and knee knocking guitar licks. Starting out more melodic on “Terror Games” while flirting with a hardened ballad but maintaining a crotch grabbing riff and infectious chorus and just enough beef and brawn to keep the headbangers happy.

A very simple final conclusion, and that is, all fans of IRON MAIDEN will make the comparison in vocal stylings of their frontman but will also love “Legends” because it rocks and delivers as promised. Theres plenty of meat on the bone and adrenaline flowing to keep every headbanger very happy.