Ironfist - Don't Fake It

Ironfist

Don't Fake It
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

After releasing a single and an EP called Middle Age Mettle Iron Fist have got around to releasing their debut album entitled Don’t Fake It. I hate to assume but it's really inevitable in this case. You can tell from the music on Don’t Fake It that Iron Fist was heavily influenced from rock bands from the ‘70s. 

You could probably surmise relatively quickly that these guys haven’t been in high school in a while but the band is nonetheless still influenced by the grooves, sounds and songs they heard back then. Take a dash of Alice Cooper, AC/DC, David Bowie and Spinal Tap and then mix it together and you should have a decent idea of what kind of music the band makes. On closer inspection their music doesn’t as much sound as it was influenced from that decade of music but rather came directly from it. 

The songs are heavy cuts, which deliver a good dose of hard rock that usually has a good amount of grit. Take for instance the first track “Look Out” which revolves around a explosive guitar riff, a steady bass and drums that don’t need to be over-compressed to be effective. ”Viceville” was one of the highlights. It wasn’t always noticeable but there were certain times where the vocalist sounded like David Bowie. 

Next up is “On its Way” which sounds like it could be an AC/DC B-side. The intro to the song is arena rock 101 that even comes with the now infamous cowbell. Don’t be fooled by the first thirty-seconds of “No Man’s Land.” It starts off sounding like you are in one of the Alien movies before launching into the more predictable rock sound that Iron Fist is known for. 

Who says rock bands don’t have a sensitive side. Just take a listen to “Hey Kelly” which revolves around a young woman who you can say may partake in promiscuous behavior. The only problem is that the protagonist is a young man who has a crush on her. Hey this story sounds very familiar to experiences I had in high school. The closing track “Don’t Fake It” is one of the bands notable tracks. They thoroughly rock out and also feature a blaring guitar solo you won’t want to miss. 

One thing you should know about is that Don’t Fake It actually contains the four songs from their EP Middle Age Mettle although remixed. The point is if you haven't heard the band before you can just start with this album. Don’t Fake It isn't without some issues (i.e. minor timing problems) but is a great throwback to the hard rock band from the ‘70s. If you enjoy some of the bands I mentioned previously then I think this album will be a welcome addition to your collection. 

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