Ice Queens Will Make Anyone Nostalgic for Classic Alt-Rock Bombast Swoon

If you can imagine an alternate reality in which Rivers Cuomo emerged from his post-Harvard cocoon with a jagged, math-y sound, the album you’re fantasizing about would sound a lot like Ice Queens’ self-titled debut full-length.

By Pete Cottell

Ice Queens, Ice Queens (Next Northwest)

[CLASSIC ALT-ROCK] Some would argue the charm of current Weezer is the joyous stupidity of their music. But what if they followed up Pinkerton by getting smart? If you can imagine an alternate reality in which Rivers Cuomo emerged from his post-Harvard cocoon with a jagged, math-y sound, the album you're fantasizing about would sound a lot like Ice Queens' self-titled debut full-length. As the canon of what's considered classic rock evolves to include '90s alt-rock powerhouses like Smashing Pumpkins and Pavement, Ice Queens are, essentially, a classic rock band in the abstract, utilizing the power of massive guitars coated in thick, punchy distortion. Opener "Others" wastes little time establishing the Queens' M.O., which rarely deviates from a tandem assault of serrated riffs winding around the sonic foreground like a pair of sparring jiu jitsu masters. "Youth" teems with the triumphant energy of Criteria or Tera Melos, while the pensive, circular melody that spins around the verses of "In Hell" recalls the knotty dynamics of Failure. The record's midsection may drag if the novelty of guitar-driven ear candy isn't your thing, but anyone who's felt the slightest pang of disappointment over indie rock's slow separation from the bombastic fretwork of its peak will find almost too much to love about Ice Queens.

SEE IT: Ice Queens play Rontoms, 600 E Burnside St., with And And And and Ah God, on Sunday, July 2. 8:30 pm. Free. 21+.

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