Punk rock, man. Sometimes a band just does it right. Iron Lung released First Kiss on February 28 and it’s a doozy. There are only 8 songs here, and they fly by in probably 10 minutes. It’s fast and furious, with a whole lotta swagger and vitriol. The record sounds like aggression, pure and simple. I’m generally not an angry dude but this record has some alleyway anger that can’t be denied. Raw vocals and pummeling drums define the sound, mixed atop some driving bass rhythm and tempo-shifting power chords that know when to chugga chugga and when to slow down.
“Cum Inside” delivers fierce hooks that stick in your head. Next up, it’s the pounder “Party Pimple,” which is all about the drums, though it has some nice breakdowns within. “Alone” breaks up tempo, drawing things out—this bad boy lasts almost hits two minutes, thanks to a feedback-laden intro before the chaos ensues. At 2:57, “Bag” sounds downright epic, with movements and everything.
I try to avoid track-by-track reviews because I personally don’t like to read them, so I’ll use these examples to highlight the real point. Smut is fierce and fluid throughout First Kiss. It has hardcore roots, but not the kind of hardcore that you stomp in place to; but the kind that makes you snarl like a rapid dog and flail your limbs. The short blasts of aggression peak and circle, but close out nicely with some time to catch your breath in between. It’s punk rock schooled by the classics, but with enough variety and punch that it’s never stale or outdated. Not even for a second.
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