<P>In an age when commercialism, pop-marketability, and corporate sponsors rule the airwaves, it can be difficult to find traces of that which "sustains" in modern music - the elements that combine to forge songs, sounds, and bands that transcend the boundaries of genre and generation. Often buried today beneath bubblegum and industry rubble, these elements recall the pantheon of monumental artists who forever changed the musical landscape. The challenge faced by modern artists lies in unearthing these seemingly forgotten elements of the past while exploring new sonic frontiers and the cracks and crevices of a dangerous modern surface.<P> <P> <P>Somewhere between sediment and sky, the elements which comprise the sound of Icarus/Drifting unite. Founded in fall, 2006 by acclaimed singer / songwriter / guitarist Eric Cox, Icarus/Drifting has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most unique, powerful, and polished acts to take the stage in recent memory. Cox - a lyrical disciple of influences ranging from Neil Young through Bono, Eddie Vedder, and Ray Lamontagne - began the group with a simple premise in mind: a modern rock group grounded in lyrics and melody, laced with the delicacy of strings, and propelled by the driving rhythms of guitar, bass, and drums. The result is a virtual tour de force on the modern rock scene. <P> <P> <P>Cox is joined in Icarus/Drifting by one of the most diversely influenced groups of musicians imaginable. Sam Grabow joined the band in June, 2008 to play violin, organ, and piano. A classically trained violinist, Grabow's influences range from classical pieces through Celtic and Hungarian fiddling and into avant garde modernism. Grabow gives the band a distinctive flair and sonic grace. Andy Pilon joined the band in spring, 2007 to play drums and percussion. Pilon's dynamic abilities allow him to go from the gentle splash of a cymbal to rapid-fire snare and tom runs and back in the blink of an eye. His rare power and exceptional range are a perfect fit for the band's eclectic style. Joining Pilon in the rhythm section is bassist/vocalist Keith Muellenbach. Muellenbach's keen melodic sense adds textural layers to the band's music both vocally and instrumentally, and the bass lines he creates lend the songs an undeniable sense of propulsion. The final ingredient to the band's instrumental mix is guitarist Pat Zyduck. A fingerstyle specialist and exceptional songwriter in his own right, Zyduck provides the band a diverse palette of emotive, intricate guitar passages which beg the listener to lean in and stay a while longer. Zyduck gives the band a rootsy feel and a sense of motion that permeates every song. Floating between lush violin melodies, the spacious yet urgent sounds of guitar and bass, and the pulse of the drums, Cox fills out the sound of Icarus/Drifting with impassioned, soulful vocals that whisper, roar, haunt, and illuminate - leading the audience through a spectrum of emotions that run from heartache through exuberance and ecstasy.<P> <P> <P>"Relentless" is the highly anticipated debut release from Icarus/Drifting. Recorded and mixed by Cox in his home studio, this collection of songs is an "album" in the truest sense of the word - a complete work in its entirety. The songs within this work range from haunting minor-melodic ballads through passionate, Celtic influenced rock and polemic, emotive grunge tones. Within these soundscapes, Cox has written a series of characters set against backdrops depicting the beautiful and brutal duality of modern times. As these stories begin to unfold, the characters and backdrops become undeniably intertwined - each influencing the other until the fragments of each become one. Once complete, these stories join their musical counterparts in much the same fashion.<P> <P> <P>"Relentless" can be best described as a union between lyric and melody, between complex rhythm and carefully orchestrated space, and between raw power and sonic grace. It is an album one can both think and feel through. Much like Icarus - the Greek mythological figure that is the band's namesake - the record is a lesson in balance. Although not afraid to challenge the blazing sun or flirt with the crashing waves, Icarus/Drifting separates itself from the contemporary rock scene by blending and balancing unique elements and styles into one cohesive sound that is uniquely its own.<P>