Test Icicles, ‘For Screening Purposes Only’
By user • Jan 27th, 2006 • Category: Album Reviews
It’s no surprise a band with stage names like Sam E. Slaughter, Dev Metal and Raary Decihells has an affinity for chain saw guitars and throaty, shrieking vocals.
But what the poorly named London-based trio Test Icicles has that many of its trash-and-glam peers lack is an appreciation for less jarring undertones.
For every stop-and-start, ear-piercing guitar change, there is an easy-to-dance-to back beat. And all the howling, hauntingly devilish outcries are coupled with catchy, appropriately placed harmonies.
By combining elements of noise rock, next wave and electro thrash with the fundamentals of punk, Test Icicles transcends the specific trappings of each genre.
The freedom to mix elements from challenging musical roots with the natural inclination to keep people dancing makes “For Screening Purposes Only” a refreshing listen.
Many times young acts feel the need to succumb to the expectation of a scene, and won’t approach a debut with the unabashed arrogance that gets lost when there is a fear of failure.
From album opener “Your Biggest Mistake,” through disco savvy “Circle, Square, Triangle” and the murky “What?s Michelle Like,” the unapologetic lads riffle through 15 spastic and aggressive tunes.
Though the trio’s attempts to blow out the speakers might sometimes sound better if, in fact, the speakers were blown out, its their self-confidence and attention to energy that rarely leaves us cold
Northern Star, Jan. 27, 2006
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