Release Date February 20th, 2026
Format Digital/CD
Genre Death Metal
Country Switzerland
Swiss death metal maniacs Defaced are dropping their third full-length album, "Icon". The band went through some lineup changes lately, bringing in Thomas Gertsch to handle vocals, Matze Schiemann on guitars, and Michael Gertsch on bass. These three join veterans Massimiliano Malvassora on drums and Marco Kessi on guitars. They spent serious time writing and trashing material until the songs sounded right. Simon Egli and Romano Galli handled the production, mixing, and mastering at Hardbeat Studio Eggiwil. Pär Olofsson took care of the cover art.
The new guys inject serious aggression into the core death metal sound. The guitars deliver massive, crushing riffs and blazing leads. The rhythm section batters the skull with relentless blast beats and heavy grooves. The studio work done by Simon Egli and Romano Galli gives the guitars a massive crunch and makes the drums sound enormous. Defaced keep the brutality at a constant high level.
The music goes beyond standard death metal territory. The title track "Icon" and singles like "Anthem Of Vermin" rip heads off. Defaced throw blistering grindcore speed and freezing black metal atmospheres into their death metal blender. You get dark harmonies and strange ambience creeping inside the songs. The guys shred fast, blast-beat driven sections and transition into devastating mid-paced grooves. The tracks rip through the speakers and obliterate everything in the room.
The lyrics dive into a bleak, dystopian nightmare. They deal with authoritarianism, mass surveillance, and psychological manipulation. The words are told entirely through the oppressor's point of view, giving the songs a sadistic edge. Pär Olofsson nailed the visual representation of this dark concept on the album cover. The whole theme drips with malice and matches the savage music perfectly.
Defaced delivered a massive beating with "Icon". The songwriting is brutal and the execution is completely lethal. The new lineup clicks perfectly and delivers total devastation. The lads stepped up their game and brought absolute savagery to the table. If you want some insane extreme metal, pick this up.
Score: 8.3
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