Black Iron - EP

Started in 2009 Black Iron is a Metal/Heavy Rock band from Pennsylvania. Originally called "The Cosmic Heavy" the band soon changed their name to Black Iron. The band have just recently completed their first release EP. Black Iron play real heavy sludge metal with classic rock and more traditional metal influences. "Tribunal" is a great example of their beer soaked metal debauchery, heavy down-tuned guitar with gutteral vocals are always a powerful mix but the vocals are guttural in the sludge metal sense, bellowing but clear. The band has one big fat guitar sound for a one guitar band, crunching thickness and a deep tone. I was trying to compare them with someone else but their sound while not unique still doesn't sound like anyone in particular, maybe "High On Fire" for a sludge reference but these dudes have a much more approach to lead guitar solo's than Pike. This mixture of styles and sound is very potent in the case of Black Iron, take the track "Liars Den" where the mix a clear vocal sound with guttural howling. This technique gives the track a different appeal than most other bands playing this style and there is seemingly millions of those right now. "Liars Den" has a great swaggering riff and the soloing is dynamic, cutting and played with a energetic vibe. "Haze" has some groove to it but still remains total metal, not a highlight of the EP though but still pretty solid.

Track four is "Betrayer" and now the band is running on all cylinders and it attacks like a mad beast. The most up-tempo track on the EP, it has some massive shredding appeal with a shredding riff, pounding drum work and in your face vocals. This is a great dose of metal but its also pretty generic, i do love the riff/tempo change at around the 4 minute mark however. The last track "Truth Be Told" might be the standout on the recording, similar to "Liars Den" especially in the vocal arrangement and technique. This track rocks like a bitch, the stomping riff slays but it leaves you wanting more as the track is a little too short, another verse and chorus with another solo thrown in would have made the track complete but that is a minor complaint at the end of the day. The EP has some fine production, clear but real heavy and for a three instrument band, Black Iron do pack a punch. For such a new band, they sound like they already have a clear vision of what they are doing and have some major potential. There is no problems in the musical ability of this band, maybe some tweaking in the song-writing department might go a long way. Its just a little too generic at times even though the band kicks ass, still being so new they can be forgiven for that one. I recommend everybody check the band out, support them, go to their shows, buy them a beer, smoke them out as this is a band with huge potential. 8/10

www.myspace.com/blackironband