Some people just aren’t happy unless they’re busy, and with two established bands occupying his time Canadian vocalist Maurizio Iacono is certainly that. Not content with already fronting two well known and established bands, the Ex Deo and Kataklysm singer now spearheads Invictus.

A solo project rooted firmly in his wheelhouse of crunching, melodic death metal, Iacono is joined by guitarist and regular partner-in-crime Jean-François Dagenais, vocalist/producer/engineer Chris Clancy, and Venom Inc. drummer Jeramie Kling as he delivers something more personal, and a little different this time.

With the name of the band derived from the Latin for “unconquered” or “invincible”, album title Unstoppable (MNRK Heavy) cements this attitude in no uncertain terms. No songs about Roman orgies or elephants crossing The Alps, Unstoppable is comprised of semi-autobiographical odes to resilience and determination with lyrics straight from the school of Hatebeed. Opener ‘You Will Know Who I Am’ is the first fierce statement of intent, a rumbling powerhouse of energy and aggression that comes equipped with chugging riffs and gravel-throated vocals as well as clean sung choruses from Clancy, the latest weapon in Iacono’s armoury.

Second track ‘Eagles’ is pure Fear Factory worship blessed with a memorable, soaring chorus while the equally catchy ‘Bleed Me Out’ is darker and more dramatic, backed by subtle but powerful orchestration. ‘Exiled’ packs a weighty punch as does the mighty ‘Get Up’ with its Machine Head style pinch harmonics and simple but punishing chorus. 

‘Weaponized’ recalls the thrashing intensity of Exodus backed by the restrained cinematics of Ex Deo, ‘3656’ sounds like it could have been written by an in-form In Flames, and ‘Ghost of My Father’ is another heads down thrasher in the same Swedish melodeath vein.

Neither ‘Darkest of Enemies’ nor the fast-paced aggression of ‘American Outcast’ stray from the format or let the quality drop before ‘Keeping the Wolves at Bay’ brings the album to a rousing climax with piano keys and – like other songs on the record – a sound not too far removed from Swedish Viking berserkers Amon Amarth.

Solo projects can be hit and miss affairs but Unstoppable is just that. An aggressive, determined and pointedly focused record that once started is almost impossible to turn off. As much as the world of death metal needs Ex Deo and Kataklysm, let’s hope this isn’t just a one-off. 

Sorry, Maurizio. It looks like you’re going to be busy for a while longer yet.

Buy the album here: https://ffm.to/invictus-unstoppable

8 / 10

GARY ALCOCK