Dead Icarus, the new band of former Atreyu lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas, as well as Gabe Mangold of Enterprise Earth and Brandon Zackey, has shared a music video for “1 Million Days.” The song’s video, which can be seen below, is inspired by classic ’80s horror films.
“1 Million Days” appears on Dead Icarus’s debut album, “Zealot,” due Oct. 31, 2024, via MNRK Heavy. Pre-order it here. The band also recently wrapped its first tour with Enterprise Earth and Nekrogoblikon.
“‘1 Million Days’ is as close as Dead Icarus gets to a power ballad on ‘Zealot,'” Varkatzas said. “When I first started writing the lyrics, I thought it was about failing someone else and seeking their forgiveness. As I finished the lyrics, it became more first person and about letting one’s self down and forgiving one’s self for mistakes made. Sometimes, the weight we bear is placed upon our own shoulders by ourselves and only we can remove it.
“The video is sort of a tongue-in-cheek homage to late ’80s horror, filmed inside a haunted house that is housed inside a haunted building from the 1800s.”
Mangold said: “Musically, ‘1 Million Days came from the intention of creating an epic, powerful, catchy and emotional metalcore ‘power ballad,’ as Alex stated. I’m a sucker for all guitar things from the ’80s, so naturally a catchy, singable, harmonized lead in the chorus was the first thing written and it set the tone for the rest of the composition. Don’t let the word ‘ballad’ fool you, though. This song has some unexpected twists and turns as well that aren’t a part of your conventional emotional rock song.”
Fans worldwide initially got to know Varkatzas as co-founder and original frontman for influential Southern California metalcore stalwart Atreyu. After two decades earmarked by chart-shaking success, a pair of Gold albums and Gold singles and sold-out shows around the globe, he embarked on his next chapter in 2020. Enter Mangold. Celebrated as guitarist for Enterprise Earth, he and Alex instantly clicked and forged a musical partnership, yielding their 2024-released “Ad infernum” EP.
“Zealot” track listing:
“THE UNCONQUERABLE”
“BEARING BURDENS AND SAVING SKIN“
“ZEALOT”
“1 MILLION DAYS”
“TEMPTATIONS KISS”
“FOUNTAINS OF DEATH”
“CASTING SPELLS”
“HELL OPENS ITS MOUTH”
“VADE RETRO SATANA”
“SECRETS IN THE DARK”
“BETRAYAL SHAPED DAGGERS”
Leave a Reply