Ironwood
Fire:Water:Ash ()
Wydane przez Self-financedRok wydania Kraj AustraliaNapisał Wouter8
After a self-titled promo EP in 2006 Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) progressive pagan/folk metallers Ironwood now independently release their first full length, called “Fire:Water:Ash”. Opening track ‘Önd Ascending’ reminds of Opeth or Lake Of Tears. ‘The Oncoming Storm’ on the other hand reminds of classic early Norwegian atmospheric black metal such as Isengard and in its more brutal moments of “Dark Medieval Times” era Satyricon. While most bands use compact acoustic sections to break away from the metallic violence Ironwood do the exact opposite, using metallic sections to break away from their acoustics. The instrumentation and skill level is jaw-dropping with shredding leads/solos by vocalists Phil Brown (guitar), Matt Raymond (guitar) and Henry Lauer (6 string bass). The triple vocal interplay gives the whole a much more atmospheric presence and with each of the vocalist’s individual styles Ironwood also draw slight comparisons to Canada’s progressive metal titans Into Eternity. A special mention also of drummer Dan Nahum who easily switches from the pondering melancholic midtempo to blasting black metal fury in a matter of seconds. Henry Lauer’s impressive work on the 6 string bass even reminds of Germany’s über-technical death metal icons Pavor. “Fire:Water:Ash” comes in a lush digipack with a neatly designed booklet with conceptual pictures for each track. Those who enjoy Viking-era Bathory (1987’s “Blood, Fire, Death” and 1990’s “Hammerheart” specifically) Bran Barr, Cruachan, or the “Nordic Warchants” compilations will surely have a feast with this record. With a length encompassing 70 minutes it might however be a much to take in for younger listeners or those freshly exposed to the folk/pagan metal subgenre. With lesser skilled bands scoring record deals and touring internationally, it is a sad that talented bands like Ironwood don’t get the recognition they deserve. This are the true saviors of pagan – and folk metal. This is the kind of band Profound Lore, Napalm Records or The End Records should strive to launch into the international metal scene.
www.ironwoodsound.com.au/
