NEW ARRIVAL: PROPAMEDIA INFOSHOP AUGUST 2006

IRON LUNG
COLD STORAGE CD
(Blastwork & Homegrown – Handnumbered 500 copies)

This is somewhat of a discography, of the best 2-man act this side of the equator! I believe this was originally put together on the CD format for a past European tour de force. Included are the rarities from their splis with Teen Cthulu, Brainoil, BG, Quattro Stagioni and Lana Dagales. The over all recordings are top-notch yet retain a raw feel. This is a dark hybrid of the power violence that is full of dynamics, time changes and loaeded with frantic insanity. John’s quirky guitar style gels so well with Jensen’s relentlessly insane drumming.

34 tracks in all and not for the meek. (Short Fast & Loud zine)

More of these Northwest Coast PV finest:

Iron Lung @ MySpace
625thrash.com

More reviews on Iron Lung releases:
inmusicwetrust.com

Useful infos on Power Violence (heh!): here

Exclusively available from Propamedia Infoshop at RM13ppd
myspace.com/propamedia
email Propamedia
013- 2497199 (Kid)

* Dont forget to ask for IRON LUNG tshirts! Available soon at only RM20!

* For those uninitiated about IRON LUNG, here goes an interview with them done by Hatta ‘Goatkore’ Nirman:

IRON LUNG is probably the only power violence band that matter right now (with a great exception to the old guards that is). It is about time people starts to talk about them instead of some generic fast hardcore that are way too popular for my liking. This interview is conducted with Jensen via e-mail last year. This is originally intended to be featured in Goatkore, but since we are taking a very long holiday I think it will be cool to have on this zine instead.

Read on.

1. How did Iron Lung start and was there a specific direction you guys set off to explore or was it just something that happened?

I had the idea to start a band about early medicine from my studies. Jon is the best guitarist in the world. We decided to join forces and make the most brutal and depressing music we could imagine. Iron Lung.

2. So how is the Australian tour? How do you hook up with the Agents of Abhorrence guys? How does the tour come about? Will the band be hitting South East Asia next?

The Australian tour was incredible. Agents (Ben and Max) hooked us up with everything we needed. Those guys are so cool, I hope they come to your part of the world soon. We would like to come to SE Asia some day but it is expensive for us to travel that far. We will work it out some day.

3. What is the memorable thing that happens to the band while touring Australia?

We encountered kamikaze kangaroos in the middle of the night during a 22 hour drive. Those dudes are tough and crazy. Our roadie Lauren found a frozen bee in her ice cream. We met tons of awesome people and made lifelong friends. I want to go back as soon as possible.

4. How would you compare the American DIY scene and the Australian DIY scene? Are there a lot of similarities?

Touring Australia is almost the same as touring the states except in Australia the drives are longer and the beaches are nicer. Otherwise, everything is the same.

5. I believe the split LP with Shank is already out. What can the listeners expect form this? Are you satisfied with what you have contributed to the split LP?

J- That record is the best record we have put out so far. The mastering and the songs are superior. Brutal. People should be ready to be crushed by both sides of that one.

6. What with the name Iron Lung, I believe it have something to do with the medical world. How does the name reflect what both of you are trying to achieve with the band?

We have always been about relating the old ways of medicine and life to teach the ways of the future. Otherwise we are doomed. If we continue to treat people in the way we treat them now we will, as a race of people, not endure.

7. Are you comfortable when people describe your band as power violence?

There’s definitely some influence from MITB, Infest, Crossed Out and a couple other bands that fall under the term power violence but can the listener simply call Iron Lung as power violence or would be totally happy to be known as a hardcore/punk band? I would be fine with being labeled powerviolence. We call ourselves that anyway. It is easier than trying to explain the fine points to someone who doesn’t give a shit anyway.

8. Tell me about the Comedy Hour tape that was released a couple years back, whose idea is it and is it possible to get it now? It is quite limited right? So what’s your take on this whole limited releases thing? Doesn’t that limit the number of potential listener that might be checking the band if not for the limited number of copies available?

The Comedy Hour tape was our friend William’s brainchild. He runs a label called Enterruption and really wanted to do a release with us. We had given him a CD of this live show we did with Jellyroll Rockheads and Exclaim a couple years back. The show was a lot of fun. With a little bit of editing the tape was released in a 100 copies edition that is now out of print. I think if a band puts out a lot of records then its okay to do a couple of limited releases.

9. What do you think about the current state of punk and hardcore in America? It seems that there is more and more corporate “punk” bands making it big? Are you concern with it?

There are some really great DIY bands in the states right now that do amazing things. There are some really bad ones too. The mall/MTV punk is starting to influence the really young kids with the wrong ideas of what punk is. Fuck corporate “punk”. Those bands are not punk. They are pop bands complete with makeup and stage clothes just like the Beatles or Michael Jackson.

11. How do get exposed to the DIY punk/hardcore scene? Do you think the whole DIY punk/hardcore thing is still relevant today?

I got tapes of Black Flag, Dead Kennedy’s and Subhumans from a neighborhood punk kid back in ’84 or ’85. I was like 7 or 8 years old then and too young to go to shows. I waited until I was older and then I started asking other kids who liked the same music where I could find more. Years went by and here I am, still into it. If I am still interested, then that means that others are too and therefore DIY is still very relevant.

12. What the best about being a duo? Does this makes touring a lot more simpler and less stressful compared to being in a band with 4-5 people?

Everything is easier except paying for stuff. Touring and writing are heaps easier for sure.

13. Is the band still based in Reno? How is the scene over there? Are there any new and exciting bands that people can check out?

We live in Seattle Washington now. There are some awesome bands there to check out like Sex Video, Doomsday 1999, Big Business and Cold Sweat. The scene is small but dedicated here. I love it here.

14. So what’s next for Iron Lung? New recordings? More tours?

We are writing a new LP right now. We will be touring with Agents of Abhorrence this summer in the United States. We also have a split 6″ with AOA coming out for the tour.

15. Anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks for taking the time to ask about our band. We are very excited to do this. See you around!!!