II
Iconic
Iconic’s II is the second album from the hard-rock supergroup featuring vocalist Nathan James, guitarists Michael Sweet and Joel Hoekstra, bassist Marco Mendoza, and drummer Tommy Aldridge. Released by Frontiers Music on July 31, 2026, the 11-song, roughly 45-minute record builds on the classic-rock and melodic-metal foundation of the group’s 2022 debut, Second Skin. It is firmly rooted in the sound of 1980s hard rock—big riffs, twin-guitar harmonies, expressive high-register vocals, and polished, arena-sized choruses—while presenting it with contemporary studio clarity.
The album opens with “Cry No More,” a forceful statement of its riff-driven approach, before moving through melodic rockers including “All I Want,” “Open My Eyes,” “Take Me to the Place,” and “Written in the Stars.” “Tears Keep on Falling” and “Nothing Left for Me” provide more reflective ballad-like moments, while “Valley of Lost Souls” adds a bluesy, exotic flavor associated with classic hard-rock acts such as Whitesnake and Rainbow. Reviews have noted that II leans more heavily toward energetic rock and metal songs than its predecessor, drawing comparisons to Whitesnake, Judas Priest, and traditional AOR without simply replicating any one of them. It is a polished, nostalgic record designed for listeners who enjoy melodic hooks, virtuoso guitar interplay, and dramatic, old-school hard-rock performance.
II
Iconic
Iconic’s II is the second album from the hard-rock supergroup featuring vocalist Nathan James, guitarists Michael Sweet and Joel Hoekstra, bassist Marco Mendoza, and drummer Tommy Aldridge. Released by Frontiers Music on July 31, 2026, the 11-song, roughly 45-minute record builds on the classic-rock and melodic-metal foundation of the group’s 2022 debut, Second Skin. It is firmly rooted in the sound of 1980s hard rock—big riffs, twin-guitar harmonies, expressive high-register vocals, and polished, arena-sized choruses—while presenting it with contemporary studio clarity.
The album opens with “Cry No More,” a forceful statement of its riff-driven approach, before moving through melodic rockers including “All I Want,” “Open My Eyes,” “Take Me to the Place,” and “Written in the Stars.” “Tears Keep on Falling” and “Nothing Left for Me” provide more reflective ballad-like moments, while “Valley of Lost Souls” adds a bluesy, exotic flavor associated with classic hard-rock acts such as Whitesnake and Rainbow. Reviews have noted that II leans more heavily toward energetic rock and metal songs than its predecessor, drawing comparisons to Whitesnake, Judas Priest, and traditional AOR without simply replicating any one of them. It is a polished, nostalgic record designed for listeners who enjoy melodic hooks, virtuoso guitar interplay, and dramatic, old-school hard-rock performance.