Concrete Elite - Iron Rose

Rebellion Records / Longshot Music

 

One of the bands I just couldn’t stop listening to for the past four or five years is without a doubt Concrete, aka Concrete Elite. This Texan powerhouse immediately impressed with their 12” maxi debut “We’re All Reapers Here” for Cadre Records (2013) and they have been smashing it up ever since! Unfortunately with only two or three songs at a time though through their “Subculture Street Trooper” single, their split EP with Assault And Battery and their thunderous appearance on the fourth installment of Rebellion Records’ “Oi! Ain’t Dead” series. Until now that is.

 

Because finally, five years after its initial formation, the bulldozer of the United States of Oi! rolls out for total destruction with its debut full-length “Iron Rose”! Being somewhat involved in the release of this record (hence this review being a little later than usual), I had the privilege to listen to this album for many times and for many months now and ho-ly-shit! If you thought these guys couldn’t lay down any tracks that sounded more brutal than their previously released work… guess again and get stoked, because Concrete Elite is indeed stronger, angrier and fiercer than ever before!

 

Therefor it’s almost needless to say that “Iron Rose” is without a doubt Concrete Elite’s best work to date. Because aside, or perhaps thanks to, all this anger and fury is also a lot of heart and passion. Something you hear back in both the lyrics and through the music. This isn’t just fun and games, this is an outlet for love, hate, rage, violence, mourning… you know, life. And Concrete Elite sound as real and sincere as it can get. I fucking love these guys.

 

With nine tracks that all demolish like a H-bomb, it is hard to pick a favorite. But “Stronger Than Ever Before”, “She’s A Hammer”, “Men At Peace”, “Last Of The Gang To Die”, “No Filth All Fury”… ah, who am I kidding? I could honestly name them all, because there is simply not a single filler on this slab of wax! Record of the year? We aren’t even halfway past 2017 just yet, but it sure as hell sounds like it! Must-have!