Icon for Hire (album)
| Icon for Hire | ||||
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| Studio album by Icon for Hire | ||||
| Released | October 15, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Studio | NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal | |||
| Length | 42:49 | |||
| Label | Tooth & Nail | |||
| Producer | Mike Green | |||
| Icon for Hire chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Icon for Hire | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| CCM Magazine | |
| Christian Music Zine | |
| CM Addict | |
| HM | |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |
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| Mind Equals Blown |    |
| New Release Tuesday | |
| Outburn | 8/10 |
Icon for Hire is the self-titled second studio album by American rock band Icon for Hire, released on October 15, 2013 through Tooth & Nail Records. It was recorded with producer Mike Green (All Time Low, Pierce the Veil) at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. It is a musical departure from the band's debut album Scripted (2011), incorporating elements of hip hop, electronica, dubstep, and post-hardcore into the band's previously established hard rock style. The tracks "Cynics & Critics", "Sugar & Spice", "Counting on Hearts" and "Sorry About Your Parents" were released as singles. Upon release, the album received largely positive reviews and debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200.
The album was officially announced with a lyric video for first single "Cynics & Critics", released on August 15, 2013.Preorders for the album were made available the following month. A short clip of the song "Sugar & Spice" was released on October 3, 2013. Tooth & Nail announced they would be releasing another single, "Counting on Hearts". The final single was announced on September 8, 2014. The song was revealed to be "Sorry About Your Parents".
Icon for Hire received mostly positive critical reception. William James of Outburn said that the band "courageously bucks the standard female fronted act comparisons" with the release, and noted how the group "wisely self-titled this record, confidently assuring listeners that this is their definitive work." At CCM Magazine, Matt Conner felt that the band was "clearly up to the challenge" with the album that proves "the best is yet to come from Tooth & Nail's young anchors." Mary Nikkel of New Release Tuesday described the album as an "edgy masterpiece in the tradition of Nine Inch Nails or Linkin Park," praising the lyrics for their "delicate balance between honesty...and hope," and declaring the album "a milestone moment, both for the band and for their genre as a whole."AllMusic's Matt Collar praised the band's "passionate, high-energy music" and Ariel's "resonant vocal chops". Micah Garnett of Christian Music Zine stated "this album takes the best features from Scripted and improves upon them substantially." He concludes his review by saying "this is one of the best rock albums of the year." Kelcey Wixtrom of CM Addict called it "an impressive album." From Mind Equals Blown's Jeremy Vane-Tempest: "If you want a tonne of fun ... listen to Icon for Hire."
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