Customer Reviews

Icon

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Back in 1980-something, a friend gave me a tape. Side-A was a new band called Metallica (Kill 'em All - destined to be a classic). Side-B was some band called Icon. Never heard of 'em, so I never played Side-B. Big mistake! One day I got the tape backwards in the player. When I heard it, I was blown away. How could I have missed this? Who are these guys? Needless to say, I've worn out the tape. Finding it on CD is like finding gold in my backyard! I have a vast collection of Priest, Metallica, Maiden, etc. To this day, this is still one of my favorites. I would best describe it as: Dokken meets Judas Priest. Nothing fancy or excessive. Heavy drummer, solid guitar, bass and vocals. In my opinion, this album is one of the best of the "unknown" '80s bands. And this CD should be a "must" for any serious '80s hard rock/metal collection! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I was thrilled to find that this Album had been re-released on CD. I wore out my copy of the tape years ago and had found that one in Canada. These guys never got the credit that they deserved and I had always thought that they were much better muscially than many of their metal peers in 1984. Icon affers well structured and well written metal with a commercial slant, yet the tunes stay heavy enough to satisfy even the heaviest metal fans appetite. Stephen Clifford's vocals are rough but have enough range to carry the commercial tunes. Dan Wexler and John Aquilino provide an awesome twin guitar attack that comes through with some solid riffing and many good guitar leads and solos. Tracy Wallach and Pat Dixon are a solid rythym section. Top tunes on this cd are "Hot Desert Night", "Killer Machine", "Rock and Roll Maniac" and my favorite which received very little airplay but was on MTV, "On Your Feet". If you like 80's metal, you should check these guys out. They deserve more credit than they got and this is a solid cd.

Truly one of the most underrated 80's metal bands. For anyone who appreciates solid, straight-forward, no B.S. rock, treat yourself to this album (if you can find it), then sit back and compare it to other era bands and draw your own conclusions.

I scored this album on vinyl about 15 years ago, and immediately put it on tape (like all my vinyl), and am now in the process of burning CDs to back up my collection. Good thing too, since it doesn't appear to be available anywhere now.

Melodic heavy metal band Icon made a huge impression with their classy debut album but unfortunately struggled to capitalise on this success, much to the disappointment of a sizable fan base. Starting life as The Schoolboys in their native Phoenix, Arizona, the five piece unit changed their name to Icon upon signing to Capitol Records after being discovered by Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney. The Schoolboys had featured one David Michael Phillips (a.k.a. David Henzerling) and had issued the 1980 EP 'Singin', Shoutin'. A track from this limited edition release, 'Meanstreet Machine', would later surface on the King Kobra 'III' album.

Mike Varney produced the band's debut album himself which received huge underground praise on the metal scene. The original intention was to issue the record on Shrapnel Records but Icon was soon snapped up by major label Capitol Records. The second album, 'Night Of The Crime' produced by the esteemed Eddie Kramer and mixed by the equally highly respected Ron Nevison, found Icon dropping the favored heaviosity of the debut under pressure from their label favoring more of a commercial route the band also roped in the services of professional songwriter Bob Halligan Jr., a man noted for his work with Judas Priest and Helix among others.

This move tended to find favor with European based import buyers who considered the album to be nothing short of a classic by fans of American hard rock. Unbelievably, 'Night Of The Crime' failed to dent the charts. Clifford quit during mixing stages of the album, reportedly to become a born again Christian. Aquilino made his exit a year later to be replaced by Kevin Stoller as Icon substituted second guitar for keyboards.

Despite this setback Wallach, Wexler and Dixon persevered, recruiting vocalist Jerry Harrison and guitarist Drew Bollman. Recordings were made in a much lighter vein than before, which saw the light of day as the 'A More Perfect Union' cassette album. Although thought to be an unofficial release by many this cassette was in actual fact a bona fide Capitol Records release.

Performing tribute gigs to raise funds under the bizarre assumed name of Assmaster in their native Arizona, Icon soon got back on the road. Icon's efforts were rewarded with a deal from Megaforce Records. The resulting album, 'Right Between The Eyes', was given a boost by the inclusion of Alice Cooper guesting on vocals on the tracks 'Two For The Road' and 'Holy Man's War'.

The Alice Cooper connection did not end there as Wexler recorded rhythm guitar with the great man on the studio track 'Lost In America' for his 'Fistful Of Alice' album. The guitarist also co-wrote four tracks on Alice Cooper's 'Last Temptation' concept album. Wexler would also aid songstress Lydian with her 1989 demos, his material later turning up on the 'With a Vengeance' album.

The French Axe Killer label would re-ssue and remaster Icon's first brace of albums during 2000. The same year an album entitled '1984: Live Bootleg' was issued by the band with an accompanying video. 2002 found Wexler in Thieves In The Temple, issuing the album 'Thick As Thieves'. Rumors of an ICON reunion persist.

Discography:

(1984) ICON - ICON
(1985) ICON - NIGHT OF THE CRIME
(1987) ICON - AN EVEN MORE PERFECT UNION
(1989) ICON - RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
(1999) ICON - 1984: LIVE BOOTLEG

Album # 3 was originally entitled More Perfect Union, this is a 1995 reissue. Each one is signed and numbered. This album, initially released on cassette only, was an independent release. It came in a period when the band was in between record deals. The cassette originaly contained ten tracks. The CD version containing the remaining tracks was/is released as a limited edition. The songs on this album are examples of the excellent song writing the band was capable of.

Icon turned into a commercial Whitesnake-ish band on Right Between The Eyes. New Singer (Jerry Harrison). Guitarist Drew Bollmann replaced John Aquilino. Two decent songs on it:

* A Far Cry (Very Dokken-ish)
* Holy Manfs War (Pretty heavy)

These two albums will amaze you. You could only dream of such guitar tones their HUGE !!! Buy these if your from the 1980's and need something fresh you never heard. Great vocals and tunes - tasty !!!

Icon is one of those hidden metal treasures thats deserves more exposure and respect! i am very happy to have receved two of there releases on cd, and would be even more excited if the recording industry would release more of there materal i.e. (right between the eyes) on cd, so do yourself a favor and take a listen to there self titled disc,or night of the crime. icon rocks !!!

If I had heard this album in 1984 Icon would have been one of my favorite bands of the time. This first offering by Icon will just blow you away with its hard driving melodic metal sound. It grabs you with the very first song and doesnt turn loose and in the end just leaves you panting for more. This band should have been absolutely huge in it time and anyone who was blessed with getting to see them had to be floored especially if they were fronting which I have to imagine that they probably were. I feel sorry for who ever was at the top of that bill cuz I would assume they got their butts handed to em.

The self titled Icon is a pricy item but I would suggest that you grab yourself up a copy anyway possible and check this band out and see what a gem it really is. You will be glad that youve got Icon in you collection.

US melodic hard rock band Icon made their debut in 1984 with this self-titled offering. Icon was one of those bands that really should have made it big in the 80's, but for whatever reason never took off. It might have been due to the fact that they were heavier than the average hair metal band but not quite as heavy as the average metal band. They fell somewhere along the spectrum between Dokken and Armored Saint.

The Icon debut is a tight, well-written album of dramatic metallic epics and rock anthems. There are a ton of great melodies, but it wasn't so melodic that it got too poppy. It probably doesn't qualify as metal by today's standards, but the band had a great metal spirit that's evident here, especially on songs like "Killer Machine" and "World War." "(Rock On) Through the Night" and "Rock n' Roll Maniac" are just great driving rockers, and even the so-called ballad ("It's Up To You") goes beyond the typical sappy love song. The guitar work, vocals, songwriting - all of it is top notch.

This is a terrific album, and one that any fan of 80's era hard rock and/or heavy metal needs to hear. Icon went on to release a few more albums, all of which are great, but never managed to reach the level of success they deserved.

Edition Notes: French label Axe Killer reissued Icon in 2000. The Axe Killer reissue features expanded liner notes, a slipcase, and brilliant digitally remastered sound. They also issued Icon and the band's follow-up Night of the Crime in a 2-disc Axe Killer Warriors Set, which is more affordable but comes in decidedly cheap packaging. If you want the best possible versions of these albums, go with this Axe Killer reissue of Icon and the Rock Candy reissue of Night of the Crime.

I agree with other reviewers. This is one great slice of melodic hard rock. You'll want to play this one loud. I have this and Night of The Crime on vinyl. Not a bad cut on the album. Do bands like this even exist anymore?
www.electriceyes.us

This album always reminded me of what would happen if you combined Ratt's "Invasion of Your Privacy" with Kick Axe "Vices" and WASP"s Last Command." Solid 80s anthems and solid production.