Misc. Day – A Burning Solace

Weeping Icon not only stands on the shoulders of a blistering punk rock background like New York City, but the almost unpredictable nature and structure of their self-titled display has a firm grasp on the listener for attention. They carry themselves as tactile and efficient without ever coming across as militarized or too socially rigid. They form these views of a dystopian setting through lightning guitar riffs, blitzing percussion, and mostly screamed vocals over the whole record.

When the 34-second introduction of heartbeats and demise lingers over the first track, “(drag me out)” is a futuristic and bleak sound that immediately shifts into the long death throes of this raging guitar that wails and shrikes like a decaying beast. “Ankles” has bass that is more tension-building than calming and as the track explodes into flames in a sudden transition, Weeping Icon becomes a powerhouse of hellish intent. Weeping Icon as a record is the reformation of early punk principles but with a new coat of tarnished paint. Nothing shines brightly, but for a good reason and is instead a burning false solace for an audience to gather to.

The harsh screams are less inviting and more off-putting which is perfect for a record filled with predator versus prey construction. The entire time, the listener feels isolated and as if they are being chased by some larger animal that is uncontainable. Weeping Icon features these ambient and often industrial interludes between tracks that edge closer and closer toward a capturing. The cat and mouse game is one of the better elements of Weeping Icon’s persona that eventually leads to either escape or utter failure.

One of the later tracks, “Power Trip” combines the love for slowed and methodical punches rather than harsh walls of noise. It feels similar to a walk through the desert that builds and builds as mirages appear like beacons of hope. Only upon further observation of the track does the curtain peel back and showcase a stronger and more forward rush of strings that go almost into a twilight zone of sound. “Power Trip” is still an excellent display of how an utterly ugly creation can be so appealing and that goes for most of Weeping Icon but In the nicest way possible.

There is nothing on this record that is clean, or in a positive light but that is why it lingers on the record player time and time again. It spawns an ultimate look into a new and diverse cloud where this style of sound travels between generations and eras. As the gasoline runs out and Weeping Icon stands alone, the smell of a crumbled civilization surrounds the band and forms a new home.

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