Year : 2022
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 117 mb
Bio:
Absolutely monstrous new hard rock group, Iconic.Featuring Michael Sweet (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), Marco Mendoza (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums) and Nathan James (vocals), Iconic is primed to set the hard rock world on fire with the release of its debut album "Second Skin" on June 17, 2022."This was a very refreshing and unique experience. Musically very different from Stryper, which is of course very different from all the other projects I am involved with. This is more of a throwback to the past and it felt good to do that. It reminded me of how great the music of the past really is", says Michael Sweet. "Once the songs were arranged, I booked a studio and recorded my guitar parts, which is always the funniest part for me. I’m not sure why, but I guess because I’m a guitar player first and foremost and it’s just one of the most creative and fun parts of the process for me. To be able to get the right tone and play the right parts and hear it all come together ... it’s very rewarding," he adds."The riffs were all very comfortable to me because I wrote most of them. I definitely have a great comfort level playing with Tommy Aldridge that’s developed over the last 8 years or so with Whitesnake. I’ve also co-written with Nathan, Michael and Alessandro in the past, so everything felt very natural despite this being a new band," says Joel Hoekstra. "Michael asked me to write riffs without an arrangement (as he did with George Lynch on the Sweet & Lynch records) and then he arranged them with what he had written. I wrote melodic/hard rock riffs as that was the vibe we had discussed and then all the solo parts had more to do with trying to compliment Nathan’s vocal melodies and of course add a bit of fire," he continues."I am on an album with so many of my heroes and it feels amazing, to be honest. I was lucky enough to be involved in the writing of a couple of songs, but genuinely everything I hear from the guys, I knew I could do it justice. I also feel that the guys wrote stuff that suited my voice perfectly. These are not only great musicians, they are great songwriters. I practiced the songs a lot beforehand and then I recorded all my vocals at an amazing studio in only four afternoon sessions. I wanted to make sure it sounded like me and that my vocals had the precision that I'm so used to hear from my vocal heroes, whom many of the guys in the band have played with. And of course, I was very aware that I would be on songs with the vocal master that is Michael Sweet. I felt the pressure for sure, but I just did what I felt worked and I'm so happy with the final result," says Nathan James."It was a blast playing some fresh, new material. Rehearsing, trying out parts virtually was not as much fun as doing it live, but considering the global circumstances, I‘ll take it. I just try to create a supportive environment for all involved while having fun in the process. It was easy to do as these songs really play themselves. It was a true labour of love, so very little work at the end of the day," adds Tommy Aldridge.Michael Sweet, known for his work as guitarist/vocalist for the legendary heavy metal band Stryper and his solo work - with his instantly recognizable voice and guitar style - is really a name that needs no introduction to the hard rock faithful. Joel Hoekstra, currently of Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is one of hard rock's premiere guitarists, whose fretwork is regularly praised and admired. Marco Mendoza's resume really speaks for itself (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, The Dead Daisies, Journey) and the legendary bassist shines, as he always does, here. Tommy Aldridge, currently of Whitesnake, has also played with Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent and Black Oak Arkansas, and is considered one of the greatest hard rock drummers of all-time. And handling lead vocals is none other than Inglorious' Nathan James, a young talent whose vocal style is a fitting, proper descendent of rock's vocal legends of the 70s.Iconic was born from an idea conceived by Serafino Perugino, president & head of A&R for Frontiers. He wanted to surround the talents of powerhouse vocalist Nathan James with established musicians from the rock and metal world to play a musical style in the vein of classic 80s hard rock. He immediately thought of Michael Sweet and Joel Hoekstra for the guitars, since they have been kicking around the idea of working together for a few years. Plus, Nathan and Joel were friends from their time in Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Sweet had become a fan of Nathan's vocals after hearing Inglorious. With the musical direction set and two wildly skilled guitar players on board, getting a powerhouse rhythm section involved was the final key ingredient and thus Mendoza and Aldridge were asked to join and brought their immense talent into the fold.
Album:
Iconic is the formation of the new and exciting hard rock group.With Michael Sweet (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), Marco Mendoza (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums) and Nathan James (vocals), Iconic is ready to set the world of hard rock on fire! It’s not just a group of talented musicians who have come together to make music, it’s an album that feels like a second skin to them.Nathan must be excited to have one of the greatest vocalists of all time backing him up, rock legend Michael Sweet…That says how humble Michael is. how great Nathan is, having the most fun with Michael in a more than evident complicity, a perfect tandem between music and good vibes.Michael Sweet, known for his work as the guitarist/vocalist for the legendary heavy metal band Stryper and his solo work, with his recognizable voice and guitar style instantly, it truly is a name that needs no introduction to the hard rock faithful. Joel Hoekstra, currently of Whitesnake and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is one of hard rock’s greatest guitarists, whose depth is regularly praised and admired. Marco Mendoza’s resume speaks for itself (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders, The Dead Daisies, Journey) and the legendary bassist shines, as always, here and whenever he gets the chance, it’s as if would go crazy every time he has the bass between his fingers. Tommy Aldridge, currently of Whitesnake, has also played with Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent and Black Oak Arkansas, among others, and is considered one of the great hard rock drummers of all time, on this album it seems that he has been given all the freedom to make the drums stand out and fearless. And handling the lead vocals is none other than Inglorious’s Nathan James, a young man whose vocal style is a proper and proper descendant of ’70s rock vocal legends. I mentioned at the beginning, a group of rock stars who have earned their stripes through hard work and talent. Take notes, THIS is what real rock and roll sounds like! This can easily qualify as a group of LEGENDARY combined good work with their long track record.Iconic was born from an idea that Serafino Perugino had, and surround the incredible talent of vocalist Nathan James with musicians from the world of rock and metal to play a musical style along the lines of Whitesnake. He met with the producer Alessandro Del Vecchio and began to draw the formation in a consistent line. Michael Sweet and Del Vecchio had previously worked together on Sunbomb (Michael’s heavy metal project with Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns) and had really enjoyed working together. Sweet was eager to think of another release for the two to collaborate on, so he was happy to join. A couple Sweet and Joel Hoekstra had been an idea that had been kicking around for a few years and this seemed like the ideal opportunity to bring that idea to fruition. Also, Nathan and Joel were friends from their time together in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Sweet had become a fan of Nathan’s voice after hearing Inglorious, so the two guitarists along with Nathan felt natural. With the musical direction set and two extremely skilled guitarists on board, involving current and/or former members of Whitesnake’s rhythm section seemed like an ideal scenario, and so Mendoza and Aldridge joined the fold, to shape that idea they initially had in mind. And that finally remains more than embodied in this album.Sweet and Hoekstra handled most of the songwriting. Co-producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (he and Sweet produced the album together) contributed melody vocals and keyboards. James also contributed songwriting to two of the songs.Artists enjoyed the opportunity to write and create music outside the confines of their day jobs and fans have the opportunity to hear even more new music from their favorite artists, making this album a sure bet.There’s nothing about this that isn’t amazing! Super tight guitars, ripping vocals, and Tommy Aldridge blasting the crowd! drums! This is what heavy metal should be, periodic melody with no missing links where each member is a very dedicated musician and becomes part of each song, and actually plays and merges with their instrument. I know that when you can listen to the entire album and look at the composition of each song you can perfectly recognize each one of them. The band managed to bring the elements of 80’s hard rock with a modern look, all very balanced, seamless and with that air as powerful as its name suggested.
Line-Up:
Nathan James - vocals (Inglorious)
Michael Sweet - guitar (Stryper)
Joel Hoekstra - guitar (Whitesnake)
Marco Mendoza - bass (ex-Journey, Whitesnake)
Tommy Aldridge - drums (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne)
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Alessandro Del Vecchio - keyboards
Tracklist:
01. Run (As Fast As You Can)
02. Ready For Your Love
03. Second Skin
04. All I Need
05. Nowhere To Run
06. Worlds Apart
07. All About
08. This Way
09. Let You Go
10. It Ain't Over
11. Enough Of Your Love
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