At last, I had to wait for three whole years to listen to a new INSISION album and finally here it is! The Swedish death metallers are here for one more time refreshed and stronger than ever to show that brutality is still alive and kicking. Ikon is the answer to all those who think that brutal Death Metal has became common and boring. Let the Swedish maniacs show the way to brighter days for Death Metal!

Some things that happened in the INSISION camp made me be very optimistic about what I was going to face in Ikon. The band left Wicked World/Earache and signed with Dental Records, an underground label that specializes in the brutal side of Metal. The Swedish quartet made me realize that what I  was thinking was more than true, when the opening riff of A Ravenous Discharge blew my speakers!

It seems that Stockholm doesn't only produce melodic Death Metal, but it can also offer some good old brutal stuff full of twisted Death Metal melodies (do not get confused with the word melodies, we are talking about really brutal stuff here) and neck-breaking speed! Ikon won't offer many mid tempo moments, so you should better warm up for an endless and merciless headbanging experience! It has been some time since I headbanged with a promo I was listening to so as to write a review. In 2002, I had the chance to listen to the band's Beneath The Folds Of Flesh album, and I remember I was astonished by their style. Even though brutal Death Metal is starting to rot from the inside and produce numerous boring and common albums, INSISION manage to retain an original and unique style, and show that there are still bands that can stand above every shitty release this genre produces. To tell you the truth, Ikon is how DEICIDE's The Stench Of Redemption (2006) would sound if it was a bit more brutal and had much more complex compositions.

Birath proves that he is one of the best microphone beasts out there, Johansson makes many guitarists look at his killer leads like young students and Ekeroth along with Jonsson create a solid and heavy rhythm section that teaches how the base of Death Metal should be! INSISION are here to stay and they will accept no excuses! Follow them or die trying to find some decent Death Metal!