+ Announce Test Of The Iron Mind LP out June 13 via Last Ride + Flatspot Records
Melbourne’s Iron Mind have been torchbearers for Australian hardcore for nearly twenty years. Today, the band announce their third album, Test Of The Iron Mind, set for release June 13 via Last Ride Records / Flatspot Records. The news arrives with towering first single “Solitary Realm”.
Aptly titled, the ten tracks on Test Of The Iron Mind nod to Iron Mind’s history, while clearly written with the band’s contemporary vision. Groove-driven riffs, stomping breakdowns, and confidently delivered lyrics make up the bulk of the record. Produced by Otis Bennie (AWOL), recorded by Sam Johnston at The Black Lodge, and mixed by Taylor Young at The Pit, the raw energy found on Iron Mind’s past releases is transformed into a massive, crisp sound that still instills a heavy conveyance.
First single “Solitary Realm” leads with primal drums and crushing guitars that make way for an anthemic expression of perseverance.
Vocalist Sam Octigan shares, “This is a song about recognising the tendency towards self isolation and the necessity to move away from it or suffer further consequences, while acknowledging the difficulty in doing so.”
The video for the song, directed by the band and Jack Rudder, unleashes a high-powered performance from the band centered around the mysterious statue featured on the album’s artwork.
Breaking out with 2009’s The Sun Has Set EP, followed by their 2011 debut album Hell Split Wide Open, Iron Mind signed to Flatspot Records in 2014 for the release of their self-titled LP. Building up a global name for themselves with intense live sets, they toured with bands such as Turnstile, Terror, No Warning and Harm’s Way during that time. Shifting down a gear in terms of a full tour schedule and releasing new music, Iron Mind opted to simply play an annual show at home for a number of years, the band returned in 2023 with Assume Your Ultimate Form.
Controlled, collected and motivated, the band thereafter entered the studio to record what would become Test Of The Iron Mind. With pragmatic lyrics, a sonic fury, and bridging their past and future, Iron Mind’s forthcoming album is set to be their most definitive. The band shared a preview of the record at a sold out show in Melbourne last weekend, leaving the passionate crowd wanting more. Check out some footage from the unforgettable gig here.
Iron Mind is Sam Octigan (vocals), Neil Bloem (guitar), Akira Asahina (guitar), Josh Barclay (drums), and Dan Collins (bass).
1. Intro
2. More Pain
3. How You Get Down
4. Terrified
5. Dog Will Hunt
6. No Fate
7. Test Of The Iron Mind
8. Paid In Full
9. Eye To Eye
10. The Crucible
11. Solitary Realm
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