Iron Chic and Punk’s Fellowship
Over the last 9 years Iron Chic, the New York punk rock band, has innovated a genre with their style of emotive yet catchy pop-punk. Their previous releases, such as Not Like This and The Constant One have highlighted the group’s ideals of perseverance and friendship. Nothing has changed with their newest record, You Can’t Stay Here.
You Can’t Stay Here is the first release from Iron Chic on the label, SideOneDummy, a record company that has been producing some of the most talented groups in punk such as Jeff Rosenstock and PUP. Iron Chic is in good company here, as their anthemic songs with emphatic punk rock mixed with classic rock instrumentals should put them on every punk fan’s agenda.
“A Headache With Pictures” is the opening song on You Can’t Stay Here. This combination of anthemic punk and distorted guitars is a great way to welcome Iron Chic back into the punk fan’s ears. With the chorus-like “woahs” and the combination vocals that the band is known for, Iron Chic shows the characteristics that make them unique.
“My Best Friend Is a Nihilist” almost sounds like a country song in its lyrical content, mixed with an ounce of angst, but the guitar solos and anthemic singing gives the song a hook that can easily get stuck in one’s head. Catchy lyrics such as “It’s like driving a runaway hearse / I can’t stop, I just make things worse / Come on and take the wheel from me / Put me out of my misery,” are memorable enough to make this song a highlight on You Can’t Stay Here.
“You Can’t Stay Safe” is a needed slow-down that the album welcomes. The instrumentals are emotional enough with empowering drums as the lyrics proclaim “Forgive your enemies / Be strong for the ones you love.”
“Planes, Chest Pains, and Automobiles” reiterates the classic American style of punk rock that Iron Chic is known for, that varies between the Replacements, the Gaslight Anthem and Fucked Up. “Golgotha” really emphasizes the gritty and deep vocals that Iron Chic showcase through lead-singer Jason Lubrano.
The album is able to come to terms with the death that the band experienced in January when their original guitarist Rob McCallister died at the age of 36. It uses the contemplation of what happens during death and spins it to mourn their friend in a human reaction to trauma. You Can’t Stay Here shows the importance of Iron Chic in the current punk scene. Their gritty attitude is not one of intimidation but one of comradery.
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