All Flesh And Smoke (Ayrton Felkor Remix)

Dave - Vocals
Vince - Guitars
Tom - Drums, Synth
Fabio - Guitars

Al - Bass

Produced by Patrick Aeby, Dominique Favez and Xicon.  

Recorded  and mixed by Patrick Aeby and Dom Favez  at Soundlake Studios in Lausanne.  

Mastered by Christoph Stickel  in München at MSM Studio.

review  by dalia "gryphon_spirit" di giacomo____                       

Pandora opens the box a second time and finally  Hope too can fly out. The metal fan who comes in contact with Xicon's "box" called "Theogony" will listen to the album a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth time...a sixth , a seventh one ..oh yes, lots of times and pleasure will be free to fly out. "Theogony" combines more than satisfactorily Industrial feeling with melodic Death metal mood, Modern metal, Gothic/Electro/Cyber vibes and even some hardcore/Groove Metal clusters. All in a own style: Xicon has achieved its own dark style summoning many qualities in a wide spectrum. If this is the debut album, a  brilliant future can be foreseen for this Swiss band from Lausanne. The many influences (we really go from Clawfinger to the Kovenant) meld each other, leaving an agreeable and forceful scent of rhythmic riffs, effective lead passages - a bit downtuned but very harmonic  and prickling-  strong bass lines, thick fat calibrated drumming, syncopated melodic chords that are immediately catchy, rocking and addictive. When Xicon  relax in sweet rocky melodies, it gives immediately gas then, returning on the   patterns  with a faster and fatter guitar riffing. Xicon is not brutal , but strong and gripping. The most important thing  to discover is the decent synth factor, which generally is left  stronger in intros and outros, and doesn't steal the scene to the "metallic" guitars. It just adds tuneful mood and depth. Vocals in clear/semi clear keep a personal unmistakable dirty rawness; sometimes they express anger, sometimes the tiredness of this plagued world.  And concerning guests,  “Pandora” is enriched by featuring  Ludovic Loez' (Supuration/S.U.P.) apparition at the micro.  The skilful instrumentation gratifies the expectations of those who are demanding concerning playing and sound. In fact, Xicon's line up has a solid knowledge and experience in music indeed, with backgrounds in  Classical music , Rock , Metal and even Funk.   

The track Ego gives evidence to Xicon's qualities, and is one of the most beautiful and compelling songs from "Theogony". Ego swings from mid to uptempo in a unique way of insistent delectation and vicious ambush. All Flesh and Blood is a wonderful song full of emphasis and cadenced , riveted pace that shakes the brain. While the rhythmic section is engaged in walls of  Groove- metal- oriented ruffs, a delicate carpet in background underlines the melodic scheme. Its Ayrton Felkor remix, placed as song number 11, is then a masterpiece, because, in spite of the  heavier pronounced use of electro parts, it shows the same raw aggressiveness of the original version, becoming darker, mightier and more decadent yet danceable. Ideal for pleasing Post- Thrashers and, of course, Gothic and Modern/electro followers and Deathers also. In this song, drumming shows also some tribal echoes, so  the group of victims can be larger. Among the highlights, last but not least, comes the ballad Pandora (track number 9), so vital, melodic, angry yet sorrowful. In Pandora you can taste harmonic arpeggios as well as a vigorous double kicking and crushing guitars. But after all, Spit, Chemical and even more Wastelands and Exit the Line are likewise valuable songs. The latter is a track that comes out slowly but unstoppable and the more you listen to the cd, the more you definately dig it. 

Share the Bane begins with  a very hammering and rolling intro, followed by a cyber short counterpoint. For the lovers of The Kovenant and Rammstein. The Eye is another song that grows and grows the more you listen to it. Its hardcore/cyber lines, united with choruses, let the track explode in a succeeding approach. The refrain develops a well composed melody, whereas the rhythm is always pushing with a great bass sound. Well worth to be bought , this an album you really use (and abuse). 

Only  opener  Protoplaston undergoes my perplexities, being, in my opinion, not so well inspired as the rest  of the album, and without a true captivating refrain, despite the delicious intro. However it might be working live. On the other side, this albums conceptually goes around the Promethean myth, so Protoplaston musically fully cover its task as starting point of a new biochemistry. 

Theogony's lyrics are very interesting, some are reinterpretation and research around  the myths, some others,on the contrary,  mirror personal experiences. The production  is very effective, detail- oriented. The work is completed by a good artwork set. 
Hesiod's book "Theogony" is all about gods, Xicon's "Theogony" is all about cool stuff ...for the gods. Be your own god.

rating: 9/10  

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