One of the most bad-ass guitar players on the North Jersey scene is none other than “Big” Tim Allen, whom I’ve been watching since his days with Tru Smoke Diezel, Split Vision, and A Lesson In Violence. Well, A Lesson In Violence ended abruptly sometime last year and Tim was without a band until now. Tim emailed me a couple of weeks ago to check out his new band Ironbound, and I will tell you this: I am still picking my teeth up off the floor. This stuff was brutally heavy and knock-your-teeth-out aggressive. The songs “Bones,” “The Lost Art Of Honesty” and “Sweet Serenity” are great examples of what this band is all about: bringing the pain!
Ironbound formed earlier this year out of the ashes of what was left from A Lesson In Violence. Guitarist Tim “The Shredder” (which is the name I gave him!) Allen and bassist Tony Ruccio realized that they didn’t want all of their hard work to end. After some time and numerous auditions, Tim and Tony discovered the vocal cords they needed to complete their vision in Rock Mauriello. The band was back together with a new singer and now they needed a new name to give themselves a fresh start. A Lesson In Violence has become Ironbound.
Now, according to the band’s pages, Ironbound are currently drummer-less, but the core of this group is these three killer musicians. If you like your metal with no B.S. and a dash of brutality, Ironbound is the band for you. These guys are the band to watch on the metal scene in North Jersey, drummer or no drummer. If you play drums and think you have the cojones to play with Ironbound, contact the band at facebook.com/ironboundmusic.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Dead Fish Handshake’s new single, “Nothing Stays Gold.” Well, guitarist Rob Ferreira emailed me a copy of the song and I will say it sounds like Dead Fish Handshake have really grown as songwriters. “Nothing Stays Gold” is needless to say “golden.” Singer Matt Paul’s vocals sound stronger than ever and the music and production on “Nothing Stays Gold” really puts Dead Fish Handshake up there with some of the big names in rock if you ask me. You can purchase “Nothing Stays Gold” on iTunes or Amazon, and you can check out Dead Fish Handshake at deadfishhandshake.com.
The Aurin camp had nothing, but good news to share last week. First, they announced the addition of their new bass player, Joe Palamara, after a statewide search. Second, they made a major show announcement, where they will be opening for Nonpoint and Gemini Syndrome at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on Nov. 2. Third, their Sony RED debut, Catharsis, hits shelves on Oct. 14. For more on Aurin, log onto aurinband.com.
And finally, my bros from Audio Empire will be opening for ’90s alt rock band Dishwalla tomorrow night (9/18) at Blackthorn 51 in Elmhurst, NY, which ends a hell of a summer for the Audio Empire boys. Their year is not even close to over yet, as it seems that the boys have some more tricks up their sleeves. Keep your ears and eyes peeled on audioempireband.com for all of the latest on Audio Empire.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
9/18—Audio Empire/Dishwalla—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
9/19—Murder League All Stars—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/19—Don Jamieson/The Donner Party/Psychoprism/Dying Eyes Of Sloth/Scars Of Envy/Flowers To Flames/Xero Gravity/Words Never Spoken/Answer Infinity/Oceans Of Exile—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
9/20—Long Gone Day—The Old Canal Inn, Nutley, NJ
9/22—Affiance/Phinehas—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/23—Hail The Sun/The Venetia Fair/Stolas/Icarus The Owl/Ingdorf/Brock Landers—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/24—Ascending From Ashes/Chevonne And The Fuzz/Midnight Eternal/Xombie/Harvest Falls—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
9/24—Brand Of Julez/Unlocking The Truth—The Studio at Webster Hall, NYC
9/27—Overkill—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
9/27—Brand Of Julez/ANAKA—Santos House Party, NYC
9/27—Elected Kings—Pianos, NYC
9/27—Borgo Pass—Mr. Beery’s, Bethpage, NY
10/3—Tara Elliot—Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ
10/4—HYNGD/Jaded Past—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/4—Into The Coven/Revel 9/Archimage/Scars Of Envy/Fear The Masses/Risk All In Life/No Honor Among Thieves/Stagger—Cherry Street Station, Wallingford, CT
10/10—Methane/Pralaya—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/11—Syka/Lacuna Coil/Devil You Know/Starset—Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
10/16—MILLIONAIRES/LANDON TEWERS/Robbie Maxx/Monday Night Bear Claw/Brendan Starr—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/18—Scars Of Envy/Stagger/Lower The Veil—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
10/24—Lower The Veil/Sekond Skyn—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/25—Seas Of Wake—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
