Album Review: Five Iron Frenzy – Until This Shakes Apart

Five Iron Frenzy have 25 years behind them and possibly 25 years more ahead, so although this album has dropped after a seven year wait, the wait has been worth it with possibly their best so far.

Hailing from Denver this Ska/Punk outfit have a huge fan base, so much so that crowd funding this project, although never an easy thing, they smashed it somewhat easily and have rewarded all those fans that believe in them with something rather special.

So Five Finger Frenzy are “Ska/Punk” well that was something that always fills me with both nervous anticipation and a tinge of fear just before I hit play, the fear of hearing some generic Less Than Jake rip off or Mighty Mighty Boss Tones/Interrupters mimicking, or the nervousness that actually we have something fresh to the ears, well I’m glad to say the latter was what stroked my ears this time.

‘In Through The Door’ is the opener, shows the reason why your not gonna drag your finger across to the stop button or pull the needle off the vinyl so quickly, alt/rock with overtones of ska brass sections, the song cover the injustice of immigration and all the mud that sticks when it thrown.

From there we get what possibly hints at the most stereotypical of ska tracks, if there is such a thing on this album ‘Lonesome For Heroes’, ‘So We Sing’ hits the melodic button and gives you the anthem to sing a long to, then ‘Bullfight In An Empty Room’ shows how critical and political this album can be, a shout out to freedom of the press, or is that a shout against the power of media?

One thing that stands out, and this is purely a personal inflection, is the history of the band has been spattered by labelling of a Christian band, it’s not something that influences me, but it does warrant a step back and a moment of thought, being a heathen of epic proportions it in my nature to back pedal as soon as I hear hints of sermons, not in this case (just noting this for all of you that might be of the same non church as me).

Instead what you get, is plenty of love for the fellow man with huge slices of criticism along with humanity and political insight.

‘Tyrannis’ shows the anti conservative, anti racist sentiment that is always welcome, whilst ‘Homelessly Devoted To You’ is a very up beat and very All American Rejects sounding song to lift you up.

The rest of the album follows a much similar line, from covid hypocrisy to racism and the failings of the hierarchy, with music that is always grabbing you to keep listening.

Having read a little before writing this review and seeing all the christian band labels thrown around, it did somewhat put me off, but not one to ever judge, listening was always something I was going to do anyway, and for those of the same disposition as me, don’t let the label define what you think, listen to this and enjoy, musically great and lyrically very of the now. 

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