Alex Varkatzas

Enough self-belief makes anything possible. As much as Dead Icarus leans on the uncanny creative union between vocalist Alex Varkatzas, guitarist and producer Gabe Mangold, and drummer Brandon Zackey, the band really gets its wings from the undying commitment made by its members. The musicians pursue their artistry with a resolute sense of focus, manifesting in the precise execution of airtight technical riffs, virtuosic solos, blast beat assault and battery, and equally hypnotic and hard-hitting vocals.

Now, the group is ready to launch their full-length debut, ZEALOT [MNRK Heavy].

“Being a ZEALOT means being so narrow-minded and full of belief in what you’re doing that nothing else matters,” Alex states. “That’s how I had to be in order to create and perform the way I needed to. Throughout my musical journey and career, I had lost that fanatical conviction, but this album helped me find it again. I’ve realized nothing else matters as long as I believe in what I’m doing—and I believe in this.”

Countless fans worldwide initially got to know Alex as co-founder and original frontman for influential Southern California metalcore stalwarts Atreyu. After two decades earmarked by chart-shaking success, a pair of gold albums and gold singles, sold out shows around the globe, and critical renown, he embarked on his next chapter in 2020. Enter Gabe. Celebrated as guitarist for Enterprise Earth, he and Alex instantly clicked and forged a musical partnership, yielding their 2024 Ad infernum EP. Inciting critical applause, Revolver promised, “fans of old-school Atreyu will definitely enjoy.”

Along the way, the duo harnessed the strength of their newly cemented bond to shock ZEALOT to life. Vocally, Alex nodded to inspirations as diverse as Lamb of God, In Flames, and Killswitch Engage as well as AFI and Linkin Park.

As such, the record spans an entire spectrum of sound and fury.

“On the EP, we were getting to know each other,” the frontman reveals. “There was no roadmap for Dead Icarus. We were staring into darkness. By the time we did ZEALOT, Gabe and I had built a brotherhood. It was a lot easier to be vulnerable, and I needed to tap into that. I gave no fucks, went for it, and really found my voice.”

“We have a signature style now,” Gabe elaborates. “We figured out where we wanted to go, dialed it in, and nailed it. Each song has its own flare, and it’s multidimensional.”

The guys initially teased the album with the uncompromising and overpowering opener “The Unconquerable.” Conjuring ominous melodic death metal a la Cradle of Filth, a hellish choir backs guttural growls, giving way to rapid-fire riffing and drumming. Pinch harmonics squeal on the breakdown, and screams ring out, “This is stronger than all!”

“Lyrically, it’s about a positive feeling that’s bigger than anything else,” notes Alex. “It’s more than love, hate, pain, rage, death, or any of that. For me, I wrote it about my kids, how they make me feel, and how I need to be unconquerable for them, so they can grow up to be unconquerable as well. It’s bigger than the love I’ve felt for anything on this planet.”

“‘The Unconquerable’ had extreme metal vibes, but we made it modern with a slam breakdown,” smiles Gabe. “It’s one of my favorites, because it’s fun and powerful all the way through.”

Then, there’s “1 Million Days.” Airy clean guitar writhes beneath vulnerable intonation. The melody subsides in a bludgeoning barrage before snaking back to the climactic chorus, “What will it take to make things right with you?” Taking another unexpected turn, Gabe’s guitar lead slices right through the breakdown.

“It’s about apology, forgiveness, and acceptance,” Alex continues. “I might’ve written it about how I let myself down. You’re accepting the terrible shit you’ve done, trying to figure yourself out, move past it, and make it right. For many years, I was really unhappy with a lot of things in my professional life, and I let it change who I was. I felt like I owed a bunch of people apologies. Above all, I owed myself an apology.”

Glassy harmonics glimmer on “Secrets In The Dark,” and gothic delivery quakes through the haze. Finally, the album concludes with a fiery final bloodletting on “Betrayal Shaped Daggers.” Head-spinning guitars run circles around a trudging stomp as the hook resounds above a gang chant. In whispers, Alex assures, “I can’t just walk away,” before one last explosion of energy. “I have a pretty good twenty-plus years in the industry,” he goes on. “While there were a lot of ups, there were some downs and betrayals. In society as a whole, it feels like people are just out for themselves. I fell into the trap, but I’m opening my eyes.”

“I’m a big prog nerd, so it was cool to break it into two parts with ‘Secrets In The Dark’ and ‘Betrayal Shaped Daggers’,” Gabe adds. “They function on their own, but they work in tandem. At the same time, we retain all of the aggressive guitars and catchy choruses.”

Ultimately, you might just believe in Dead Icarus as much as its architects do.

“To me, Dead Icarus means freedom and fun,” Alex leaves off. “There are no rules. There are dark moments in life, but Dead Icarus is a way through all of it for us. It’s a way to navigate and quantify those negative emotions. I’m just so proud of what we’ve made.”