Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”
One of my favorite things about writing about bands and their music is when a band throws me for a loop.
When the unsuspected is tossed into my lap or more so- my barren, desert-like groin area.
Because when I’ve known a band that I like for a bit, I’m pretty sure I’ll like their new release.
I like it, enjoy it, review it and then go on my merry way like Santa Claus dropping presents down the chimney to land upon the many, barren, desert like groin areas he visits.
But sometimes I get a new release from a band I’m familiar with and it’s like a cannonball being shot right between my eyes, exploding into my cranium by way of the ears and then sliding down- No! not to that barren place, more like what you might refer to as your heart or soul.
And that’s exactly what happened when I listened to this new release by Wrought Iron Hex.
What before was simply a very good, hard rock/metal band now turns into a great, cutting edge band.
That is, in fact, cutting the top of my head off while we speak to drop little musical explosives inside that are sure to destroy my preconceptions of them and leave me with some mighty, fine intense and original, mind-blowing songs.
Let us proceed to the cause of this stupendous spectacle:
“The Hypo” starts out like a droning hive of angry bees followed by an avalanche of sound and volume descending upon our ears. Instead of the usual death or hardcore vocals with this style of music, the singing is surprisingly melodic, with the rhythm section mostly obscured by the assault of sound.
There is a short reprise from this wave of intoxicating noise but soon the battering, abrasive buzz of the hive returns.
At times this song sounds like an aircraft being blown out of the sky or like some great collaboration between Motorhead and Big Black. One of the best and most unique songs I’ve heard all year.
With a pounding, kick ass drum beat “Last Chance” is soon met with an overblown but enticing, psychedelic guitar lick that forebodes a bummer trip or maybe an open door to ecstatic oblivion.
This song reminds me of Sonic Youth’s great album “Goo.” Here’s another song that is vigorously violent but still steps outside the perimeters of hardcore and heavy metal creating something new.
The guitars are grungy, the vocals melodic, the overall sound blurred but expressive and adroit and damn near perfect.
“My Own War” begins with a ploddingly, heavy, industrial rhythm while the guitar clangs and bangs some awesome noise that suggests an old black and white video of smokestacks sending poison clouds into the atmosphere.
When the vocals check in, the beat is staggered while the guitars blast and blitz with ecstatic, epileptic energy.
The soothing vocals mix nicely against the blasting wall of sound. Another strange and great tune.
“The Ode” starts with a beat that sounds like it originates from a bass, like someone possibly thumping on an old upright bass. The sound is warm and thick and muddy. Soon a repetitive guitar drone arrives which sounds more like a violinist sawing away with a strong motif.
The music collides, resembling bodies in a mosh pit bouncing off of each other. But soon we’re ripped back to the beginning.
The sound becomes loud and aggressive again, the vocals are incongruously melodic, suggesting a clash of ideas and morals fought out in a field of electricity fueled weapons.
This song is industrial/punk/metal/psychedelic/hard rock but more importantly- original, energetic and great.
Kudos to Wrought Iron Hex for creating such a powerful and potent release that it knocked me out of my seat, causing me to then stand straight up, while brushing the sawdust off my jeans.
(It appears I was in an old Western saloon at the time).
Kudos to Wrought Iron Hex for being selected in my top eleven releases I reviewed this year.
(You’ll have to wait till next month to see the other ten.)
It may not be Xmas yet but this was a surprising, early present for me.
Just like when you think it just might be some flannel underwear from your Aunt Noreen, under the tree, when in fact- it’s just happens to be one of the best releases you’ve heard from a local band all year.
I hope you find this in your stocking at Xmas underneath your tree, or better yet- just check Wrought Iron Hex out for yourself.
I’m willing to bet Santa doesn’t leave you anything better than this.
(Slimedog)
