This is the sound of unbridled hardcore with nothing to lose.
None more bleak. Perhaps Iron Lung should have chosen to release ‘Adapting // Crawling’ in the depths of winter, rather than in the springtime, because this is a seriously dark record – both sonically and lyrically. Occupying a space somewhere between hardcore and noise rock, it’s the American duo’s first release since 2013’s ‘White Glove Test’, and their fourth overall.
A concept record of sorts, it sees the band “take head shots at mental health with specific emphasis on the exacting tolls the past five years have taken on humanity. The album acts as a sliced cadaver with each song a newly peeled layer exposing the corrosive effects of deep depression, a failed healthcare system, heavy grief from multiple friends/family deaths, paranoia and distrust of government, meaningless existence and loss. So much loss.” My goodness.
Easy listening it isn’t, then, but it is seriously compelling. On the likes of ‘Internal Monologue’ and ‘Shift Work’ they switch from breakneck-speed blasts of hardcore fury to punishingly heavy breakdowns in the blink of an eye, with barely the tiniest slivers of melody managing to squeeze their way through the raw, unfiltered production. In case you were wondering, that’s not a criticism; this is brutally uncompromising stuff from a band whose mission has always been to do everything themselves, with precious little regard for any kind of rules – musical or otherwise.
Consisting of 18 tracks in only 21 minutes, ‘Adapting // Crawling’ was seemingly intended as a short, sharp burst of discordant, misanthropic rage, and in that respect, Iron Lung have certainly succeeded. Dare we call this hardcore’s answer to Nine Inch Nails’ ‘The Downward Spiral’? Last year they celebrated (albeit probably not with party hats and a cake) their 25th anniversary as a band; it’s clearly not been an easy ride for them, and this record sounds like the result of plenty of soul-searching. Guys, we nervously salute you.
‘Adapting // Crawling’ is out now – order it HERE.
Main Photo Credit: CHRISTINA HAMILTON
- Adapting
- Internal Monologue
- Lifeless Life
- Shift Work
- Poisoned Sand
- Everything Is A Void
- A Veiled Eye
- Perfect Ending
- A Loving Act
- Purgatory Dust
- Virus
- Purgatory Dust (Finale)
- Acres Of Skin
- Hospital Tile
- Cog II
- HeLa Cells
- Failure
- Survived By…
Follow Iron Lung on Their Socials:
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Unsung Heroes – 9 unsigned bands impress the crowds Undercover at The Holroyd!
Continuing their quest to champion less well-known bands, the excellent Undercover Festival & Events put on a splendid afternoon and evening of live music by
A tribute to Colin Jerwood (1962-2025) singer of Conflict
On 2nd June 2025, Colin Jerwood passed away at 63 years of age. He was the singer (often one of two singers) of Conflict from
EP review: Cash Bribe – ‘Demonomics’
YES! This, my friends, is hardcore as it ought to be; raw, filthy, and bursting with righteous anger. ‘Demonomics’ is the follow-up to 2023’s excellent
Album review: The Zipheads revel in a Rock’n’Roll Renaissance!
Our favourite St Albans Rock ‘n’ Rollers The Zipheads release their third studio album ‘Rock’n’Roll Renaissance’ today! Twelve terrific tracks chart the influence of Rock
Interview: Hannah chats with lo-fi grunge punks Liliths Army
After reviewing Liliths Army’s latest album ‘Doll’, I received a message from singer and guitarist Sylvie Studente asking if I’d like to do an interview
Album review: Rat Hole are not scared of calling you a C*nt!
Essex boys Rat Hole are here to take you back to a time when punk was unpretentious, underrated, and unequivocally unspeakable! Debut album ‘Proper Cunt
I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
