ICS Vortex - Storm Seeker
When I heard that ICS Vortex of Dimmu Borgir was doing a solo album, I expected something more along the lines of Abrahadabra or In Sorte Diaboli, but maybe more guitar-heavy. What I got was something completely different. This isn’t a Black Metal album. I’d even be hesitant to even call this Metal. Storm Seeker is more like a Progressive Rock album than anything else. It isn’t very aggressive, and for the most part, it dwells in an area that is dark but really pretty mellow. The music never gets heavy or brutal - it just is. The vocals are likewise delivered competently but they definitely lack in passion. It’s almost disconnected, in a way. ICS Vortex may have written the music and performed the vocals but he doesn’t seem to be “into it.” This is very clinical in that respect, and reminds me of a lot of Folk Noir bands I’ve heard over the years, though musically, this is vastly different. It’s like someone went out and told people that cutting loose and giving it 110% is wrong and that idea stuck and became the norm. Technically perfect performances are fine, but if there isn’t any “soul” in the vocals, then no amount of studio magic can fix it. Storm Seeker is a well executed album but the intangible aspects are what pulls this down. What Storm Seeker needs is boldness in both the music and vocals. The music is just too mellow and the vocals are just too passive. Don’t be afraid to kick ass! Hell, Journey kicked more ass than this and they weren’t even Metal!
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