I.C.E.
Apocalyptic End In White

January 2005
Released: 2004, Crash Music
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Gabriel C. Zolman

If nothing else, it must be said that ICE have an excellent sense of identity, uncommon in most bands this young. Unfortunately, that identity is silly. Nonetheless, this thrashes along with wild abandon, and is well worth checking out. Confident in the utmost—nearly to the point of parody, these frosted flakes command Black Metal fans’ attention, despite resembling a monastery of Buckethead devotees. (Immortal called; they want their gimmick back.)

Stylistically kindred to Dissection, Noctes, and Catamenia, this achieves much of what post-Dissection bands like Soul Reaper failed to—total arctic blast intensity. Quite possibly among the best new Black Metal bands to hail from the US, they are “a blaze in the Northern Maryland sky,” as such.

“Hypothermic Possession,” a standout cut, possesses a bizarre creativity, whereas “Onward Banshee Legions” was ripped straight from Immortal’s book. “Cascade Cavern Catharsis,” another hit, has a nice, classic Black Metal sneer, as does “Glacial Lyckanthropic Horde.” “Convulsing Frigid Death,” (are you noticing a theme here, yet?) goes for a more Death Metal type rage.

The songwriting shows potential, though there is a cold space for improvement all around. Their penchant for obvious rhymes in the lyrics can be irritating. Most vocal patterns hinge on spitting out two words sequences, than going monosyllablic for the chorus (i.e. “One-two, One-two, Ooooonnnee!!!”).

Despite these petty inconsistencies, this is a band to watch, and a disc worth seeking out.