Consistency can be a powerful ally in music in general. Sometimes the decision to stray from a certain chosen path can rupture everything done beforehand and affect the future. In the past ten years, or maybe more, the German DEW-SCENTED, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, has been presenting the same line of Death meets Thrash Metal with conviction and no one is going to take that away from them. What is interesting is the fact that their direction hasn't really changed even with the numerous line-up changes in the past five years. The "I" tradition continues with "Icarus", via Prosthetic / Metal Blade Records, the band's new album, presents a new line-up, aside from the charismatic vocalist Leif Jansen that will forever treasure his DEW-SCENTED baby. I have to hand it to Jansen as he was able to find such talented players, one of them already served once with DEW-SCENTED in the past and that is SEVERE TORTURE's Marvin Vriesde.

Following my consistency theory early on, nothing has really changed in the new DEW-SCENTED production since the last "Invocation" album. Even the sound production remained pretty much the same, maybe slightly raw than before but it didn't change anything for the worst. I enjoyed the band's dynamics, which is another emphasis to the notion that a good line-up was chosen to champion the band's next efforts. Within the music several of the riffages may sound like an alteration if past works but whether it is or not, it didn't change the fact that those were rightly placed. There a few additional crispy licks within the SLAYERish main riffs that added a little more taste. The beats are constantly on the move, always on the offensive taking no prisoners. For one thing, and for that I am glad, there are more lead guitar solos within this release. It reminded me of the band's days when guitarists Florian Muller & Hendrik Bosche were exchanging wild solos. On the other hand, the solos of these two guitarists, Marvin & Rory, and the guest soloing of  Dennis Schnieder, are different but still emblazoned with strong energies. Furthermore there are a few blast beats moments that elevate the extremity of the material but more or less the same picture that has been painted by DEW-SCENTED remained the same.

"Sworn To Obey"opened my eyes with an untamed strike again what we are, the followers of leaders, slaves to the campaigns of others to feed us with orders of how to live. Musically bombastic with crude riffing and stellar soloing, the first strike is deadly; DEW-SCENTED is alive and well. "Gleaming With Silver" and "Reawakening" display guest appearances of Rob Ubrinati (SACRIFICE) and producer / artist Dan Swano (EDGE OF SANITY / ex-BLOODBATH). Without a doubt these two added another dimension to Jansen's passionate and brutish vocals on two amazing tracks of fury. "The Fall Of Man"'s beats and bruises can be felt deep within, with a strong musical sense, thrashy as always, DEW-SCENTED put another stone on mankind's formulated tomb. Though the winds of change won't be entering DEW-SCENTED's spectrum in the form of music, they proved that their style still matters, it still ticks and kicks ass. Go ahead and run to purchase this one.