Review : IRON THRONES – “The Wretched Sun”

Iron Thrones – The Wretched Sun
Release Date: 2010Jul13 (US)
Label: “No Label Needed”
Rating: 3/5

I have to start this review by saying that I am typically wary of bands that slap an adjective next to an established band; in this case, Joe Preston’s Thrones. It happens. There have been all kinds of liberties taken with “architect” and “ocean” in the past few years (to name but two). This Minneapolis quartet recently won the No Label Needed contest, and have opted for a concept EP as their second release, which uses thematic elements similar to Mastodon‘s Crack the Skye (astral travel, yes; Rasputin, not so much).

“Like a Moth to Flame” begins their journey successfully, exploring most of their sonic breadth, which strongly emulates Between the Buried and Me. But they fully realize all the best of this early career stage on “Against the Grain”––opening fast, retaining heavy hooks, flowing into a mellow midsection, and incorporating clean vocals.

I wondered why it was then so difficult for Iron Thrones to hold my interest throughout “I Once Had the Crown”, the longest song here at 11:44. It seesaws between light and dark, but lacks unifying nuances. Plus, the lyrics “I thought you were walking beside me/Only to find out you were never there” just plain annoyed me. They repeat. Over and over. Sometimes with slight variations on the wording, but never gripping.

“Ever Flowing” and “Forever Glowing” didn’t strike me either, and I do not mean to nitpick simply because they rhyme. The latter is a keyboard-driven instrumental that feels unnecessary, but the former kept turning my head. I consider it the heaviest song on The Wretched Sun, but it never generates more than passing interest. “And the Sky Came Falling Down” is redeeming, but I wish the lyrics were as imaginative as the musicianship.

Iron Thrones are a band to watch, and had I a label myself, would consider signing them. They have clear potential, but perhaps all this media attention affected their artistic focus. The third effort will be the true test.

FCC OK
Try 1, 3, 6

01. Like a Moth to Flame
02. Ever Flowing
03. Against the Grain
04. I Once Had the Crown
05. Forever Glowing
06. And the Sky Came Falling Down