Released by: Self Release
Release date: 20 October 2017
Genre: Sludge Metal
Lineup:
Jim Rushby – Guitar/ Vocals
Steve Watson – Bass
Scott “Brigga” Briggs – Drums
Tracklist:
01. Crown Of Electrodes
02. Omegamangler
03. 9-13
04. Toadcricifier – R.I.P.P.E.R.
05. Destroyer
06. Mortarhex
07. The Rope
08. Doomsday Impulse Multiplier
Iron Monkey started back in 1994 in Nottingham, England. Drawing influences from doom and sludge metal, and in their first five years they released an EP, full length and a split, before calling it quits in 1999. Johnny Morrow, the original vocalist, passed away due to a heart attack in 2002, and in late 2016, they reformed as a three piece, and have just released their second full length album titled ‘9-13’. They aren’t quite the same as they were before, but this new version of Iron Monkey is a whole new beast of its own. We were looking forward to getting a chance to hear this new album and dove right into this one.
They gave us a heavy hammering start with ‘Crown Of Electrodes’, snarling vocals and heavy riffs cranked this tune from the beginning. If you weren’t ready for this one when you pressed play, you woke up quickly after it started and took notice. ‘Omegamangler’ and the title track ‘9-13’ are hard, fast and heavy screamers that have your head banging at max effort.
‘Toadcrucifier – R.I.P.P.E.R.’ and ‘Destroyer’ are as fast and furious as metal can get and are rippers for sure. ‘Mortarhex’ continues the fast paced ear assault that pretty much never lets up on this album. Coming to ‘The Rope’, the steady, constant guitar hammers out of this tune to no end. With the vocal screams coming over the top of its hammering riffs, if there was a slow song on this album, this was as slow as it gets right here. This scorcher of an album closes out with ‘Doomsday Impulse Multiplier’, which is yet another ear drum smasher like everything else on here.
There is no doubt this album is a neck breaker. It hammers you for forty minutes, and never lets up. If you weren’t moving before you started it, you were after a few minutes into this record. There is no way you could stand still for long. We’ve seen a lot of people talking about this album being one of the top releases this year, and we now hear why. And it will definitely be on a lot of year end top lists.
Iron Monkey’s newest album is a skull crushing lesson in what heavy metal music should be, and sound like, when done right. There is no change of pace on this album. It’s fast, fast, and fast from the start and it doesn’t change throughout, kicking ass till the end. Recommended that you get the new album and go out to check these guys out on the road when they come around. The show has got to be high energy, no way couldn’t it be!!
Written by : Pam and Mark Schaff
Ratings: 9/10
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