Haunt - If Icarus Could Fly (LP)

Facts Vinyl LP pressing. Not ones to rest on their considerable laurels, Haunt are back less than a year after their debut album with the even stronger If Icarus Could Fly. Taking everything that was so magical about Burst Into Flame - compact songcraft, immediately memorable hooks, impassioned playing, an understated emotional element that elevates everything above mere party fodder - and fine-tuning it to near-perfection, If Icarus Could Fly is a step-up on every level. And once again, at every turn there's an absolute anthem, perhaps best exemplified by the unforgettable "It's In My Hands," a masterpiece of a song that will likely be the "hit" of the album. Elsewhere, Haunt have simply sharpened their attack with seemingly effortless ease: heavy and heartfelt, with an expressiveness that encapsulates everything that's so engaging and enduring about traditional metal. Simply put, If Icarus Could Fly is a natural progression from Haunt's debut album and the next chapter in their saga as new kings.