Review / 200 Words Or Less
Electric Chair
Social Capital

Iron Lung (2021) Loren

Electric Chair – Social Capital cover artwork
Electric Chair – Social Capital — Iron Lung, 2021

This is short, fast, loud; brutal, punishing stuff. Ripping straight into it with “Bastard,” the first verse is spit-shouted in a way that, to normal people who don’t listen to this kind of thing all the time, will literally sound like he’s saying “blah blah blah, fuck shit.” It’s damn fast, and damn angry.

But speed and intense drumming isn’t enough for a good song. The chords rip and rage, but with alternately winding and chunky bridges that add layers to the fury. Those in-between moments aren’t just a pause to catch one’s breath; tonally it gives both momentum and direction to the chaos.

This 7” has 6 songs total and they each sound like timeless hardcore with heart, fury and adrenaline that doesn’t let up until the needle slips off the wax. It’s exactly what you want in the style, mixing it up just enough that all the songs sound different while merging together into riotous blast at roughly five minutes per side. The songs run at such a high rpm that the 3:03 title track that closes it out feels like a marathon.

8.5 / 10Loren • June 14, 2021

Electric Chair – Social Capital cover artwork
Electric Chair – Social Capital — Iron Lung, 2021

Recently-posted album reviews

Menace Ruine

The Color of the Grave Is Green
Union Finale Records (2025)

One of the most unique voices in extreme music, Menace Ruine stand out in their sonic evolution. The duo of Geneviève Beaulieu and Steve de la Moth started out in a raw, uncompromising fashion, merging black metal and industrial to create absolute havoc in Cult of Ruins and The Die is Cast. In the coming years, they would expand this … Read more

Extortionist

Stare Into The Seething Wounds
Unique Leader (2025)

With a band name like Extortionist, you instantly know they aren’t messing around. I’ve watched enough true crime documentaries to know when you’re going to get tangled up with someone you shouldn’t. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, this band gives you exactly what you want and expect – raw, merciless and unforgiving music. Looking at the cover art and their … Read more

The Carolyn

Pyramid Scheme of Grief
59X, Disconnect/Disconnect (2025)

This is one of my "find" records of the year so far. I caught a few songs by The Carolyn at FEST 22 and that essentially put them on my radar, but a new record gets a band even more on my radar. But I've been struggling on how to describe The Carolyn. I'll start with "like The Lawrence Arms, … Read more