Iron Chic

There are albums that you listen to with headphones to catch every subtle detail in its production. Then there are albums you blast from whatever speakers you have available to you for no reason other than to break the walls and sing along. Iron Chic’s Not Like This is the latter kind of album!

After two years, a demo, and an EP, Iron Chic finally released their highly anticipated first full length album, Not Like This, and they do not disappoint. Kicking things off with a mid-tempo drum beat, we’re quickly thrown into a pool of bass and melody to tide us over until Lubrano’s vocals hit you like a ton of bricks in the album’s opener, “Cutesy Monster Man.” Looking to get anyone willing to listen to sing along, this pop-punk anthem hits home for anyone who feels the need to express themselves. With a bridge such as,

“I sold my soul.

Now I age but don’t get old.

And to this day,

it’s the best deal I ever made,”

it’s hard not to feel a little encouraged just to go out and start a band if it means lifting some weight off your back.

Moving on to the second track of the album, we hit the fast paced “Time Keeps on Slipping Into the (Cosmic) Future” that has us questioning our purpose with reverberating lyrics that reduce us to

“blood and dirt and bones and mud.”

Often times, Not Like This keeps a consistent mid-tempo, but Iron Chic are not afraid to pick up the speed like they do with “Know What I Mean, Jellybean?” Opening with a fleeting bass line, the album’s sixth track delivers what may be its most personal song before digging into “Awes-nificent,” that lends the album its title from its opening lyric. Then, like a calm before the storm, we get to “Bustin’ (Makes Me Feel Good) that has a moment of simply brushing off religion with the line,

“if there's a god he hates us.

Does what he can to see us fail,

but were not superstitious so we don't fucking care.”

Relying on harmony and “whoas” before building up to each chorus, this song sets up the album’s closer, “Every Town Has an Elm Street,” perfectly! Jumping right into an outburst of vocals, this song begs to be sung as loud as possible with a chorus that could leave you running out of breath.

Iron Chic’s Not Like This is 10 tracks, 2 of which are re-recorded songs from the band’s 2008 demo. The songs will hold your attention with catchy guitar hooks and melodies backed with emotionally driven lyrics and vocals. I suggest not sleeping on this album or this band!

8.5 / 10 — Aaron H