While revivals come and go like the weather, thrash has never needed one because it has always been there. Some bands reach more success than others, but there is always a high quality of music coming from the underground. Iron Reagan are one of the leaders of the new generation of thrash bands and, with their third album, they invite you to take âCrossover Ministryâ.
Understandably, they have drawn a lot of comparisons to the members of other bands such as Municipal Waste and Cannabis Corpse, but âCrossover Ministryâ stands out more than Iron Reaganâs previous releases. It is an 18 track whirlwind ride of crossover thrash, hardcore, and solid punk rock that well and truly kicks you square in the face without remorse.
It has become apparent over the last few years that Iron Reagan is a vehicle for a more serious side of vocalist Tony Foresta. Even with the fun, fast and frantic ode to partying âFuck The Neighboursâ, and the several tongue-in-cheek stabs at organised religion, most notably on âDogsnotgodsâ, Forsesta is, for the most part, pissed off.
Recorded in the midst of the heated US Presidential election, anger and frustration has clearly spilled over into âCrossover Ministryâ. âWelcome to the tragic end of all life,â screams Foresta during âDying Worldâ, before lambasting the powers that be on âGrim Businessâ. Unless you know the humour of Iron Reagan, you would be forgiven for thinking âMore Warâ was an anthem for rallying violence, when, in reality, thereâs no underlying malice in the sarcastic narrative.
Musically, it is the most refined Iron Reagan have sounded to date. Not that they needed to âfind their soundâ or anything, they know what business they are in; they have just perfected it. âCrossover Ministryâ is driven by the power of the almighty guitar riff. There are blitzkrieg moments’ fury such as the 14-second âNo Sellâ, and the even shorter âParents of Tomorrowâ. They set up the longer â by Iron Reaganâs standards â âCondition Evolutionâ and âBleed The Fifthâ respectively, both of which pay homage to classic thrash with an added modern groove.
Donât be fooled by the heavy number of tracks, thinking this is going to be a prog-metal epic with soaring compositions; this is thrash, and it careens by at a blink-and-you-miss it rate of knots. It follows a time-honoured tradition of a hard-hitting delivery as laid down by the godfathers of the genre, and Iron Reagan are now among the royalty. Once you join the congregation at âCrossover Ministryâ, you will be a convert for life.
GLEN BUSHELL