Berlin-Based Instrumental Stoner/Prog Metal Icarus Burns Releases Self-Titled Debut Album
Icarus Burns is an instrumental stoner/psychedelic/progressive quartet from Berlin, Germany. The band was originally formed in 2020 as a heavy psych group with a vocalist, and they released a three-track debut EP in 2021. After undergoing a lineup change mid-2024, Icarus Burns decided to focus solely on instrumentals, taking inspiration from greats such as Rotor, Elder, Monkey3, Rezn, Thrice, Kosmodrome, My Sleeping Karma, and Robot God. This prioritization shines through in their multi-dimensional sound. Icarus Burns is all about contrast, alternating between smooth and rough textures and tones that vacillate between serenely atmospheric and downright tumultuous. In this way, the band not only achieves their goal of allowing each instrument to shine, but they effectively weave impassioned tales without a need for words.
With this new kaleidoscopic sound to drive them, Icarus Burns set to work on their self-titled debut EP. One single, the heavy-hitting Minotaur, was released in January 2025, very efficaciously drumming up a wave of excitement for the new EP. Furthermore, in the true spirit of the heavy underground, Icarus Burns co-produced the EP themselves and released it on their own label, Feather & Wax Records.
Icarus Burns' self-titled EP was released on February 12, 2025, and it contains 6 diverse tracks:
Icarus Burns' Self-Titled Debut
1.) Minotaur
Minotaur enters on a placid, dreamlike breeze, but don't be fooled: a note of trepidation hovers in the air. A palpable charge builds in the atmosphere, leading to booming drums and crashing cymbals striking like lightning, ushering in a tempest whose rumblings can physically be felt in your body as you listen. Electric flashes of intricate and wailing guitar work dot the storm, with crunchier riffage underfoot. A strong heavy psych undertone is present throughout Minotaur, drawing upon desert and Eastern tones. These snakelike tendrils of psychedelia creep in at first before making their way to the forefront in the final third of the song.
My favorite thing about Minotaur is it does a great job of ensuring that all its elements - atmospheric, heavy, and psychedelic - remain constant once established, but each takes multiple turns in the spotlight, drawing attention to just how necessary each of these parts are in creating the whole.
2.) Die Werft
Die Weft (meaning "the world" in English), much like Minotaur, enters on an ethereal note, but this time, it's marked by a background of distorted confusion. This reminds me of one of those dreams that, while foggy and perplexing, can also bring with it an element of placating intrigue. After this intro, some spacey psych takes hold, which always creates an aura of optimism plagued by apprehension for me. About one third of the way into Die Weft, some much heavier instrumentals join in, alternating between weighty, booming stomps and crunchy bite. These contrasting moods join forces to end the track in a very epic way - and that may or may not be a play on words in regard to the song's meaning.
3.) Melancholia
Melancholia begins true to its namesake, with a gloomy yet soothing intro that relies on some mellow percussion and spiraling, psychedelic guitars. Of course, in true Icarus Burns fashion, this temper ultimately launches into what is one of the heaviest transitions yet: a thundering heavy metal roar that, while undeniably sludgy in its gravity, still manages to be quite crisp. This move from wispy psychedelia to dense metal cannonade occurs once more, this time adding a noticeable amount of dimension to each segment before ending the song as delicately as it entered.
4.) Slash (A Distant Light/In The Darkness)
This aptly named track starts with a pulsing, spacey buzz and bright but driving guitar, creating an amalgamation that's simultaneously weighty and buoyant, painting an interstellar portrait in my mind. While these elements gradually increase in intensity as the song progresses, they wait until Slash is drawing to an end before becoming uproarious in a smooth crescendo that leads directly into delightfully immersive chaos.
5.) Trännen der Sonnen
On Trannen der Sonnen ("tears of the sun" in English), we take an even sharper turn into the atmospheric qualities begun in the previous track, with some airy and dynamic post rock/metal textures. While there are some heavy, metallic moments, particularly at the midway mark, Trannen der Sonnen is considerably fluid.
6.) 100 Days
Just when I thought the ascent into the clouds had reached max altitude, Icarus Burns takes us beyond the exosphere on 100 Days. While the moods on Trannen der Sonnen were a bit spacier in their post metal sting, the character of 100 Days is altogether heavenly, with a much more delicate, less aggressive, and less apprehensive vibe. That is...until the last three minutes of the song, when our rise into the ether suddenly becomes a full-throttle plummet into a chasm down below. This journey is plagued by dense and quaking, viscous instrumentals, carrying us through the fire before spitting us out to rest on the last few notes of the EP. These notes truly leave us on a cliffhanger, with their soaring yet anxious wails... Is the fall from grace the least of our worries, or should we brace ourselves for something even more sinister?
Final Thoughts
There are two primary things about Icarus Burns' self-titled EP that stand out to me. First is the adeptness with which the band ensures each element of every song not only gets a turn in the spotlight, but that each component often revolves back to the forefront for another showcase. In this way, Icarus Burns not only thoroughly highlights the skill of each individual musician, but they develop a sense of continuity that keeps the listener invested. However, that's certainly not to say that Icarus Burns' music is predictable, it's actually quite the opposite, and that brings me to my second point: variety. Just when you think you know which direction a track is headed, the floor will drop out from under you, transporting you from an incredibly atmospheric environment or into the most immersive heavy metal assault. Of course, Icarus Burns isn't the first instrumental metal band to utilize this technique, but they do it with pronounced contrast and abruptness, reminding me very much of the band Rotor. With their knack for sophisticated songwriting, instrumental prowess, and an unparalleled element of surprise, Icarus Burns makes one hell of an impression with their debut EP. This is one that will never leave you bored.
More About Icarus Burns
Icarus Burns Is:
Tim Corden - Guitar
Jens Gehrke - Guitar
Axel Kalteiß - Bass
Cristobal Cuadra Bravo - Drums
Icarus Burns is planning to play gigs throughout Germany and Europe in 2025, with some dates already confirmed. Keep an eye on the band's social media and website (links below) for more info about upcoming shows!
You can follow Icarus Burns and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Icarus Burns for the promo!
If you like Icarus Burns, you may also enjoy TFNRSH!
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