Ice Sealed Eyes - 'Vol.2: Fragments' - EP Review

There is no doubt the modern metal scene across Europe has seen a staggering development in genre fluidity, regional expansion and overall popularity, but there are certain industry trends and production tricks that remain more localised in the community across the Atlantic. In those lines, if you ever wondered what would be the sound of the likes of Spiritbox, Bad Omens and The Plot In You if they originated from Europe, the answer lies in Belgium, of all places, for there is a rising band called Ice Sealed Eyes that appears to be blending the best of both worlds with impressive vision and composure.

Their story so far is a brief one but the journey ahead appears to be more than exciting. Prior to this year, they have released a few promising singles to set the stage for what has been a fantastic 2023 for the band. Early on, Ice Sealed Eyes premiered their first EP Vol 1: Torments with the outstanding 'There Is No Safety In The Dark', made a great collab with fellow Belgian electronicore outfit Suasion for the cover of 'Everybody (Basktreet's Back)', dropped the intense rapcore-leaning single 'Oxygen' and now they are finally giving us the second part of their EP with the modern metal brilliance that is Vol 2: Fragments.

I have spent some time living in Brussels and know all too well there are enough people in the local metal crowd hungry for something fresh and contemporary and they will surely be ecstatic for Ice Sealed Eyes as they take all those modern tropes and spin them masterfuly. With regards to overall atmosphere and tone, they reflect the unique Belgian mix between the romantic nature of the French-speaking world with the cold sensibility of the North. Production-wise, it is a sort of a clever mix between SharpTone Recs' progressive US metalcore allure and Arising Empire's modern European alt metal output.

Ice Sealed Eyes describe themselves as a newcore band that "combines dark soundscapes, modern metal production with punitive riffs, breakdowns and passionate vocals to craft their chilling universe" and I can hardly put it better. The dominant atmosphere in Fragments, as a logical continuation to Torments as well, is alien, industrialised and dystopian, an estranged world of isolation and anxiety. The feelings, however, are real, close and relatable, delivered vocally with choking emotion in both the soaring highs or brutal screams, and musically through those crushing breakdowns, riffs and transitions.

The EP builds up with small but firms steps, starting with the expansive 'Satellite' to set just the right tone and pace before my personal favourite 'As We Collide' send us to a whole new dimension of twists, turns, conflicting emotions and powerful extremes. Next in, 'Forlorn' serves as a chilling interlude before 'Deadweight' delivers a full blast of Ice Sealed Eyes' raw and uncontainable metalcore energy. Then it is in the hands of 'Suffocate' to give Fragments the epic finale it deserves and that makes it five songs that join the band's previous five across the two volumes of their double EP as the lead-up to a killer debut.

With Ice Sealed Eyes, Belgium has a very capable contestant in the ever-expanding modern European world. In both Vol.2: Fragments and Vol.1: Torments they do not sound like a rising band making their hesitant first steps in the scene, but as a mature and confident outfit that know who they are, what they want and how to achieve it. With several exemplary singles and two very powerful double EPs out this year, Ice Sealed Eyes are just few more right moves from the international breakthrough they deserve in 2024.

Ice Sealed Eyes - 'Vol.2: Fragments' EP

Country: Belgium

Released: 30 November 2023

Label: Independent

Tracklisting:

1. 'Satellite'

2. 'As We Collide'

3. 'Forlorn'

4. 'Deadweight' (ft. Concealed Reality)

5. 'Suffocate'