Today we have the privilege of sharing an early stream of “Aberrant Tyranny” the second preview song taken from ‘Voracious Streams‘ the third full-length album from Turku, Finland-based death metal quartet CONCRETE ICON. At it since the late 2000’s in various configuration these folks have long been obsessed with the hammer of old school death metal at its early 90’s apex of creativity, pulling from United States and peaking European death metal for their brew of caustic yet technically sound craft. Now approaching the completion of their second decade this refreshed line-up only seems to have focused their work toward the brutal yet brilliantly riff-twisted realms of groups like Monstrosity and Sinister at their best.

You’ll pick up on the punishing ‘Necroticism…‘-level influx of the intro riff(s) and the Mike Smith feeling stampede behind certain verses as “Aberrant Tyranny” lends us the masterful intensity of the band up front as the prime Florida death metal (Morbid Angel, Deicide, esp.) incense begins to rise in the overall pull of the song. It is a fine and exceptionally detailed piece to introduce the volatility and the well-trained compositional hand of the group in constructing this level of ‘old school’ inspired death metal. If you’re already geared up for more elite death metal in 2025 this should be one of the first records on your list to grab.

Thanks goes out to Concrete Icon and Memento Mori for the opportunity to share this song early. Scroll down to the YouTube embed below to finalize your descent… As always, please do your best to support the worldwide death metal underground and grab a copy on CD this coming January 20th, 2025. It will also release on Cassette Tape via Fetzner Death Records and Digitally via Redefining Darkness Records.:

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Per the Press Release:

Band: CONCRETE ICON
Album title: Voracious Streams
Format: CD
Label: Memento Mori
Release date: January 20th, 2025
Cover art: Juanjo Castellano

Bio and description:
Formed in Turku in 2007, CONCRETE ICON unleashed their debut EP, “Where the Horns Reign”, in 2012, quicky followed by their debut full-length, “Perennial Anguish”, the year after. After going through numerous lineup changes and taking a short break, the band returned stronger and more determined than ever in 2019, with the release of their widely acclaimed sophomore full-length, “Rancid Harmony”, which definitely turned them into a band to keep track of and a force to be reckoned with by diehard deathsters in the underground scene all over the world. Fast forward to late 2021, the band released an EP on tape format, titled “Rebirth”, that featured two brand new songs, as some sort of appetizer before diving into the writing process of their third full-length. A few months later, a compilation named “Reign of Anguish MMXXII”, featuring remixed versions of both their debut EP and their debut full-length, was released. Not long after, another major change occurred, as half of the band quit in the middle of rehearsals for the third full-length. Replacements were promptly found and the band returned to live action in 2023, finally entering the studio to record their long overdue third full-length later on.

CONCRETE ICON blend the viciousness of classic U.S. Death Metal with the melancholic gloom of their European counterparts, combining leads drenched in despondency and suffering with a more angular and punishing riff barrage, resulting in an atrocious entity that’s as quintessential as old school Death Metal can get, while exuding a personality that’s their very own. For those in need of references, think a neck-breaking mix of Morbid Angel, Paradise Lost, Deicide, Amorphis, Monstrosity, Sentenced, Immolation…

Discography:
“Flood of Darkened Thoughts” demo (2008)
Split w/ The Seventh Gate (2010)
“Desecrating the Throne” demo (2010)
“Where the Horns Reign” EP (2012)
“Perennial Anguish” album (2013)
“Through Agonizing Past” compilation (2015)
“Rancid Harmony” album (2019)
“Rebirth” EP (2021)
“Reign of Anguish MMXXII” compilation (2022)

Band links:
https://www.facebook.com/concreteicon
https://concreteicon.bandcamp.com

Label links:
http://memento-mori.es
https://www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label

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