ICONIC EYE – Into The Light (2017)
British melodic rockers ICONIC EYE were back in 2017 with their second effort “Into The Light“, a transitional album to take fans along from the first male orientated album to the new female-fronted format. Indeed, for this second release, Iconic Eye featured new singer Jane Gould and lead guitarist Robin Mitchard. Jane provided a more melodic approach yet with power, while Mitchard’s guitars brought a welcomed edge to the band.
“Into The Light” is classic female-fronted British Melodic Rock with a hard edge, some moments of pomp, a bit of AOR, but first and foremost melodic all over with tons of punch.
Overland (the band of FM’s singer) was the first comparison that came to mind for me, but much more edgy and of course featuring female vocals, while some of the more keyboard driven affairs made me think of first half of the ’80s Europe here and there.
In the subtler details department I’d toss in some US melodic hard as well.
There’s swirling guitars on ‘Am I the One’, the biting ‘Better Place’ and punchy ‘Never Get Through the Night’, these bein the harder tracks on the album
AOR song structures and synths appear on the catchy ‘You Make It’ (a highlight for me), the sweet midtempo ‘Don’t Stop Me from Leaving’, and the very well elaborated ballad ‘Let It Rain Down’.
For pure melodic rock take ‘Black Heart’, then the band add some acoustics to the mix for ‘All She Needed’, a song with a Saraya feel.
Iconic Eye successfully connected AOR harmonies and classy Melodic Hard Rock on this second – female-fronted – incarnation . “Into The Light” includes strong songs, high quality performances, and a fine self-managed production, clearly indie, but fresh.
Highly Recommended
01 – Am I the One
02 – You Make It
03 – Those Tears Won’t Last
04 – Let It Rain Down
05 – Black Country Lady
06 – Better Place
07 – Black Heart
08 – All She Needed
09 – Thanks for the Memories
10 – Don’t Stop Me from Leaving
11 – Never Get Through the Night
Vocals – Jane Gould
Guitars and Keyboards – Greg Dean
Lead Guitars – Robin Mitchard
Bass – Gary Slater
Drums – Paul Emery
BUY IT
www.iconiceyemusic.com
