Iron Fist - Middle Age Mettle

Iron Fist

Middle Age Mettle
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

I feel like I’m walking into the bar and AC/DC is on the juke. Or is it Buckcherry? Nazareth? Nope. Iron Fist is at the wheel and seat belts are pretty optional. These guys have a good trademark considering their transparent influence and attraction for the simplistic allure of power chords.

On their EP Middle Age Mettle the vocals are distinct and come through great in the mix despite the whole package being a touch under budget. Sort of like my uncle’s first EP. The guitars need more presence, the highs and lows are too thin and the drums are distant. In general, these guys bring back the early ‘80s rock‘n roll and they couldn’t have hit it more on the head. I just urge them to bottle up some more energy and backbeat next time. Oh and pick your guitar solos wisely. It’s not always a good time to noodle.

That cowbell. I dig it Iron Fist, you picked a solid, fun little piece of percussion and took us all back to the days before we needed driving bass or constant ticking hi hat to stay on time, to stay on step, to stay on point. I’ll hand it to them on a silver plate – good work. “On Its Way” is their opus, their triple steak burrito if you will. I say they ride on this one and really find their sound in the process because the first three tracks are some other version of themselves, maybe a swapped progression here and there, a couple clicks slower or faster. 

However on the song titled the same as the album “Middle Age Mettle” they start things off with some three-part harmony straight out of a Gregorian saloon. And then it’s gone! Back to the salt mines of chug chug rock and nearly there chorus tags. I think this group has its market and I’m young on their spectrum, but I want more from this band. Let’s fine tune the production and kick out the jams! Turn the amps up to 11 and hit those drums like they just slept with your girl! This feels like potential on a leash. Cut it.

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