Ironwood - Debut EP Review

Ironwood are a self acclaimed progressive folk metal band from Sydney, Australia. I picked up a copy of their debut self-titled EP featuring the three songs Yggr, The Tree and Song Of The Danes. This 24 minute EP is a great starting point for Ironwood, with Yggr starting out on a softer note, with rain and thunder sounds under some clean guitar (is it more metal of me to actually have listened to this during a real storm here too? I sh!t you not) and progressing into some nice aggressive metal. It's sometimes a hard thing to go from soft to heavy so smoothly, but these guys have the transition working perfectly, and with the sound they have it makes it a very enjoyable listen.
Track two, The Tree is a wonderful 'ballad' so to speak, since it is all clean instruments. Although the next song, Song Of The Danes, returns to the aggressive heavy sound of the previous song in full force. But this song is not without it's softer moments aswell, with a nice break about 2 mins in. This song includes the most awesome solo you'll hear on this cd, although I can't help but think it was too short.

The vocals themselves are something I haven't heard much before, and in relation to the music, it's f!cking awesome. The bass guitar does more than play root notes here aswell, I can actually hear some technicality within the rhythm section. Something that more bassists should do way more often. It has a sort-of Steve Harris galloping sound to it, and although this band doesn't sound much like Iron Maiden, it does kind of remind me of them (which is a good thing). But, if you're after full-on comparisons here, you're not going to get any. I honestly can't think of any other band I've heard that sounds like them. A feat very little accomplished in the metal scene these days.

Basically, this EP works as an introduction to the band, a great intorduction that is. after listening to it all through, I can't wait for more. The production isn't that of 'professional' quality, and by that I mean it's not over-produced, which is no bother for me. Everything was still understandable and sounded great to my ears. The nordic themes give it some extra credit points for me aswell, as it's a subject I enjoy thoroughly (enter epic lightning bolt here). Basically, this is a band that everyone should give a listen at some point, I hear very good things about their live show aswell. Other reviews that I have read only act as support to my statements that this band is destined for something good in the near future.

Check them out now! And keep an eye out for an album sometime soon.
http://www.myspace.com/ironwoodband

http://www.ironwoodsound.com.au

Collections

Here is a list of both my Opeth and Katatonia collections. I'll be updating periodically with pictures of the collections in their entirety and close-ups of anything requested. Enjoy!
Added to the end is a list of some other rarities I may have scored, aswell as what I am after.

Opeth
Orchid UK Original
Orchid re-release black DLP
Orchid DLP Pic Disc
Orchid Purple DLP
Orchid Cassette
Orchid Candlelight Tin
Morningrise UK Original
Morningrise Re-release
Morningrise 2006 Japan
Morningrise Cassette
Morningrise DLP Pic Disc
Morningrise DLP Pic Disc TEST PRESS
Morningrise 2008 Grey Vinyl
My Arms Your Hearse UK Original
My Arms Your Hearse USA Original
My Arms Your Hearse Candlelight Tin
My Arms Your Hearse Cassette
My Arms Your Hearse DLP Pic Disc
My Arms Your Hearse 2008 Blue vinyl
Still Life Original Peaceville
Still Life Slipcase CD
Still Life Promo CD
Still Life re-release digi
Still Life 2008 2cd edition
Still Life Cassette
Still Life DLP
Blackwater Park Promo
Blackwater Park CD
Blackwater Park LTD 2cd
Blackwater Park digi
Blackwater Park cassette
Blackwater Park 2008 180grm Vinyl
Still Day Beneath The Sun 7" Vinyl
Deliverance Cd
Deliverance Cd signed
Deliverance Metal Mind digi
Deliverance Music For Nations digi
Damnation CD
Damnation Metal Mind digi
Damnation Promo CD
Damnation 2008 180grm Vinyl
Lamentations
Ghost Reveries 1st release CD
Ghost Reveries 2cd digi (AUS release)
Ghost Reveries 2cd digi (US release)
Ghost Reveries 2LP
Ghost Reveries MC
Selections from Ghost Reveries Promo (signed by Mike and Peter)
Selections from Ghost Reveries Promo (signed by 4 band members)
The Roundhouse Tapes Cd
The Roundhouse Tapes DVD PAL
The Roundhouse Tapes DVD Jewel case NTSC
The Roundhouse Tapes 2cd promo with case
The Roundhouse Tapes 2cd promo in plastic sleeves
The Candlelight Years
Collectors Edition slipcase 5CD box
Watershed CD
Watershed LTD 2cd
Watershed DLP w/cd
Porcelain Heart promo Signed by Fred & Per
Mellotron Heart promo Signed by Fred & Per
Burden Promo Signed by Fred & Per

Other Opeth bits:
Fredrik Åkesson pick (2)
Watershed booklet SIGNED (framed with poster)
Ghost Reveries Booklet SIGNED
Still Life shirt
Old logo shirt
'06 tour shirt
band pic shirt
'08 watershed shirt (Stockholm stamp on back)
Opeth logo zip hoodie
MAYH zip Hoodie
4 assorted badges
metal pin
metal pendant
Deliverance poster
Large Orange text Watershed Tour poster for Sydney show
Die cut Watershed Australian Tour poster
Ghost Reveries UK poster


Katatonia
Jhva Elohim Meth MCD
Jhva Elohim Meth Blue Vinyl
Jhva Elohim Meth split cassette with Hades
Dance Of December Souls Peaceville Re-Issue digi
Dance Of December Souls Black Lodge re-issue digi
Dance Of December Souls Black Lodge Jewel
Dance Of December Souls Mystic Empire Digi
Dance Of December Souls Cassette
For Funerals to Come purple logo cd
For Funerals to Come cassette
Brave Murder Day Avantgarde original
Brave Murder Day / For Funerals to Come CM
Brave Murder Day digi
Brave Murder Day cassette
Brave Murder Day LTD pic disc
Saw You Drown LTD Blue Vinyl
Discouraged Ones / Brave Murder Day 2cd
Discouraged Ones Avantgarde
Discouraged Ones 2006( ?) Peaceville Digipack
Tonight's Decision slipcase CD
Tonight's Decision Digi re-release
Tonight's Decision 2008 vinyl
Tonight's Decision 2008 vinyl
Tonight's Decision cassette
Tonight's Music single
Teargas EP
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2001 Digi (folds out to form a +)
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2004 Digi re-release
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2008 vinyl
Viva Emptiness original CD
Viva Emptiness re-release digi
Brave Yester Days 2cd digi
Brave Yester Days 2cd jewel
Black Sessions box
December Songs 2LP
December Songs LTD Tin
The Great Gold Distance slipcase
The Great Gold Distance slipcase
The Great Gold Distance 2cd edition
The Great Gold Distance box set
The Great Gold Distance promo
The Great Gold Distance 2LP Red Vinyl
The Great Gold Distance 2LP Red Vinyl
My Twin Single
My Twin Single
My Twin Promo DVD
Deliberation Single
July Single
Live Consternation
Night is the New Day (Swedish Edition)

Katatonia bits:
Gold sticker
Brave Murder Day shirt
My Twin shirt
Signed Night is the New Day promo card


Related:
Bloodbath:
Breeding Death promo
Breeding Death 12" Pic Disc
Resurrection Through Carnage promo
Resurrection Through Carnage LTD pic disc
Resurrection Through Carnage / Breeding Death CD
Nightmares Made Flesh 2008 Century Media
Nightmares Made Flesh promo
Unblessing the Purity CD
Wacken Carnage Digi CD/DVD
The Fathomless Mastery
Mock The Cross T-Shirt

Diabolical Masquerade - Ravendusk In My Heart
Diabolical Masquerade - Ravendusk In My Heart Blue LP Signed with signed postcard
Diabolical Masquerade - The Phantom Lodge
October Tide - The Grey Dawn digi

Ayreon - The Human Equation Box
Ayreon - 01011001 2CD promo
Ayreon - 01011001 2CD + DVD ltd
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Edge of Sanity - Crimson cassette
Candlemass 20th Anniversary Live DVD
Roadrunner United

Hard drive
Sörskogen - Mopordett i Grottan
Steel - Heavy Metal Machine (3 songs)
5gb of Opeth bootlegs

Opeth related musical gear (why not):
Laney GH100L :D

Other goodies:
Unleashed Shadows In The Deep cassette Signed
Unleashed Where No Life Dwells cassette (sealed)
Drumstick signed by Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)


Wish List:
Opeth:
Morningrise OOP Vinyl
My Arms Your Hearse Promo
Blackwater Park OOP Vinyl
Still Day beneath The Sun 7" GREY
Damnation OOP Vinyl
Deliverance pic disc Vinyl
Deliverance Promo
Deliverance Single
Ghost Reveries promo
And whatever else is missing.

Katatonia:
Dance Of December Souls Vinyl
For Funerals To Come Vinyl
Brave Murder Day Purple Vinyl
Discouraged Ones Vinyl
Any other OOP CD and Vinyl that I don't have.

Bloodbath:
Breeding Death OOP CD
Nightmares Made Flesh CD and Vinyl
Resurrection Through Carnage colour vinyl

October Tide - Rain Without End
Steel Heavy Metal Machine 7"