Strike Anywhere - "Iron Front" [2009]

"Did the banks buy our president?The corporate bail-out,Heaven sent.Legislation from a company town,Washington D.C. burn it down!"

- Hand Of Glory [track 5]

Staying true to their roots, as cliche as it may sound, is something Strike Anywhere has managed to do time and time again over their decade of existence. And they have done it again with their latest record Iron Front due out October 6th on Bridge Nine Records. They've released an EP, as a precursor to the full-length, entitled Iron Fist. The EP features two tracks from the impending album ["Failed State" and "Hand of Glory"] as well as two b-sides that didn't make the final cut ["Orphan Age" and "Twilight's Last Gleaming"].

I got my hands on a leaked copy of the full-length and it is every bit as impressive, passionate, and intelligent as I had hoped. From amidst the couldn't-be-faster percussion, the smoldering riffs, and the melodic leads, blazes forth the lyrical fury of vocalist Thomas Barnett that I've grown to love. With subject matter extending from politics to social issues to animal rights to globalization the words are delivered sometimes in song singing, sometimes in an angsty shout, or in massive gang vocals. The record opens with "Invisible Colony," a song that puts the proverbial 'pedal to the metal' and clocks in at 1:19, and winds down towards the end with more ballad-y tracks like "Western Scale" that screech to a relative hault at 3:14. There's something admirable about a band that can grow and evolve and progress, yet still hold to the same style and beliefs and integrity that drew me to them years ago. If you want something to make you think, or make you mad, or make you sing along, or just something to run in circles to, I suggest to pick up this record in October.

4.5 Clenched fists out of 5, for making me wait so damn long!

Track Listing:

1 Invisible Colony

2 I'm Your Opposite Number

3 South Central Beach Party

4 Failed State

5 Hand Of Glory

6 The Crossing

7 Spectacular

8 Blackbirds Roar

9 Omega Footprint

10 Summerpunks

11 First Will And Testament

12 Western Scale

13 Postcards From Home