Iron Fist Of The Sun - Family Survival Strategy (c) 2019 Unrest Productions Artist....: Iron Fist Of The Sun Album.....: Family Survival Strategy Source....: CD Tracks....: 6 Genre.....: Industrial Label.....: Unrest Productions Encoder...: LAME 3.100 Quality...: 223 kbps / 441kHz / Joint Stereo URL.......: http://discogs.com/artist/1618979-Iron-Fist-Of-The-Sun Tracklist: ---------- 1. Family Survival At All Costs 3:53 2. She Stopped My Blood 10:57 3. Herself As Empty 2:52 4. Copper Colour Thyself 5:01 5. Blackbird Playback 9:38 6. Wipe 5:23 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 37:44 Total:64.98 MB / 37:44 Release Notes: -------------- LetÆs hope itÆs not the warm beer (sorry, Australian joke), but when it comes to industrial music, it seems to me thereÆs currently an inordinately large amount of goodness in the United Kingdom. Notably, there are quite a few UK projects pushing the envelope and stretching the boundaries, none more so perhaps than Iron Fist of the Sun. For while he is more than capable of producing excellent æorthodoxÆ power electronics (his Behavioural Decline release of 2009 is a fine example), Lee Howard is equally comfortable working with far less linear electro-acoustic and abstract sound. This latter approach had full stride on last yearÆs Cold Spring Records release, We Can Yield Our Own Footsteps, but I have to say, it left me a little cold. Here, back with Unrest Productions, thereÆs a definite tightening of the reigns and a far greater focus than on previous releases. Family Survival Strategy combines the best of both worlds in the Iron Fist of the Sun orbit: tight, muscular power electronics and intricate synth filigree. æShe Stopped My BloodÆ is all unease and restraint, and demonstrates complete mastery of HowardÆs small arsenal of synths. The subtle flourishes in the background or lows in the mix make a big difference on the album and hint at a determination and patience in wrangling his gear. æCopper Colour ThyselfÆ is an absolute blinder: anthemic synth bass line, microphone feedback, and heavily flanged vocals. ItÆs sparse and roomy, and very effective at loud volume. The increasingly forceful use of feedback is something IÆve very much enjoyed hearing over the past few albums; it adds a roughness and intensity to the razor-sharp synth lines that are so prevalent on many Iron Fist of the Sun albums. In closing track æWipeÆ, for instance, the austere plod of a single note plays against barely spoken vocals, while the buzz of a reverberated feedback wall gradually fades in with increasing forcefulness. And if you thought there was something amiss with that cover (superb as it is), maybe itÆs the absence of Princess Diana. This isnÆt the first Iron Fist of the Sun album to be missing her face, but itÆs a little jarring nonetheless as sheÆs graced the covers of most releases. To me, at least, her appearance on Iron Fist of the Sun albums seemed to allude to all the promise and disappointment of Great Britain. As she mentioned in one famous interview, æhere was a fairy story that everyone wanted to workÆ. The projectÆs references to heritage and bloodlines also sit comfortably with her persona. All roads seem to have led to this point, then, and for me, Family Survival Strategy is everything thatÆs first-rate about Iron Fist of the Sun. The project is around nine-years-old now, and it seems has well and truly hit its stride. Long may we see it prosper. Heathen Harvest