The Chicago music scene has arguably become one of the most eclectic scenes when it comes to local music, with members often joining several bands, each one more different than the last. Musicians from all walks of life have emerged from the punk, alternative and hardcore scenes, and the environment itself shows no signs of slowing down or fading out. So much so that some members have found a new outlet in a new genre.
Forged Icon is fronted by Matt Garrity, with Ray Ortiz on bass, Alex Wilder and Jesse Defatta on guitar, and Joseph Martinez on drums. An unofficial Chicago supergroup, if you will, Forged Icon features members of beloved punk and alternative bands Nora Marks and Cut Your Losses. Garrity has been a member of Nora Marks since their formation in 2016, transitioning from bass guitar to drums since then, while Wilder and Martinez have been the respective guitarist and drummer for Cut Your Losses since the band debuted as Skylight Cinema in 2019. Fans and members of the Chicago music scene were particularly amazed once they learned who Forged Icon really was–quite a departure from their alt-rock beginnings, their Forged Icon EP, released on June 30th, is a heavy-hitting metallic hardcore act that features Matt Garrity's guttural growls and screams that could be compared to the likes of Whitechapel’s Phil Bozeman and Fit for an Autopsy’s Joe Bodalato, and chugging riffs from both Wilder and Defatta.
Forged Icon made their official debut on all streaming services when they released their first single “Shock Collar” on June 7th, with the rest of the EP following several weeks later on June 30th. Echoing influences such as Kublai Khan and Jesus Piece, “Shock Collar” was most certainly a proper debut for the band. A well structured, unrelenting song, “Shock Collar” undoubtedly cements the band’s newfound place in Chicago’s hardcore scene in the span of only two minutes.
But of course, this was only the beginning. Preceded by a mostly instrumental “Intro” filled with chugging riffs, “Shock Collar” is followed on the EP by “Bloom // Wake,” another hard-hitting 2-minute piece that could easily become a fan favorite and where the band makes no bones about their Knocked Loose inspirations. Following is the one-minute, 45-second long “Snakebitten.” Do not let the short length fool you–this is yet another track that packs as much as it can in such a brief amount of time and leaves an impression on its audience, perhaps even being the standout track on the album. The penultimate and bass-heavy track “Dug Out” features the most memorable breakdown on the EP, while Forged Icon’s final track, “Brass Knuckle Tax” allows the album to end with a bang. With punk-attitude lyrics and a similarly unrelenting instrumental structure, the song wraps the EP in a neat little bow and leaves listeners wanting more from this band.
Recently, on August 11th, the band made their live debut in the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, performing at the popular DIY spot The Fallout. Seated directly behind a Mexican restaurant, the venue is about the size of a garage with a skate park and makeshift bar outside where patrons can hang out between sets. The “stage” was a small platform about six inches off the ground and a bit too crowded for a five-member band–most of the vocalists that night would leap off stage and into the crowd, moshing along with the fans or standing in the middle of the pit. Forged Icon was the third of five bands to perform that night, preceded by Bound and Gunmask and followed by The Poserz from Houston, Texas, and Chicago’s own popular hardcore band We Weren’t Invited. A majority of their set, save for a Knocked Loose cover and a new song still being fleshed out, featured songs from the EP. What may have been most memorable, though, was vocalist Matt Garrity’s ability to rouse the crowd into a circle pit that spread out to more than half of the entire venue space.
“It’s our first show, and I want everyone moving,” Matt announces at the start of the band’s set, determined to keep the energy for all 30 minutes. His infectious energy would do just that–the crowd was easily excited and clearly not ready for their set to end.
The Forged Icon EP is a solid first release for the four-piece, and the songs may just be more hard-hitting and the breakdowns more satisfying live in a DIY space with just enough space for a circle pit. Let’s hope Forged Icon’s next show is sooner rather than later.
Comments