“North Carolina’s Ironside have been on my radar for quite some time (as have many bands from the area!) and I was incredibly impressed with their self-titled EP which was released back in 2008. Anyway, it’s now 2011 and Ironside are serving up another slice of metal.”

"Asheville’s Ironside got their name from the U.S.S. Constitution, a famous ship that earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” after defeating the British warship H.M.S. Guerriere in the War of 1812. Be that as it may, those 19th century swabbies and their cast-iron cannon didn’t put out a fraction of the red-hot metal that these guys do. Anthems like “Age of Defiance,” “Die for Me” and “No Intervention” are downright catchy, and singer Mike Merchant and guitarists Joey Cain and Patrick Fitzgerald all sport shaved heads, giving the front line a scary symmetry (the Turnbull AC hairstyles don’t have any political significance, says Fitzgerald. They just like the way they look)."

"Every year, they come for Bele Chere. The peddlers of plastic shoes, cheap jewelry and $3 magnets. The bunched-up teens in too-small skirts. The sellers of turkey legs, gyros and the funnel cakes. The schreeching street preachers. The zombie-fied tourists, shuffling through the streets of Asheville, sucking down too much beer and soaking up too much sun. Feel the noise: Why bash Bele Chere? Local metal acts like Ironside, pictured here, say they often feel snubbed by the family-friendly festival’s selection process. And the bands."

"Ironside have been playing Metal for the ‘average Joe’ since 2004… And just by listening to the tracks on their MySpace, you should be able to tell that they do this fantastically well. The band have also been kind enough to answer a few of my questions… So here we go!"

“Ironside are another band that I found through the technological wonders of MySpace. They're also another band that have shocked me with how good they are. Why are bands like this not signed to a major label (hopefully one that would also sign Black Ritual and A Road Eternal - among others!) while bands that vomit unimaginative crap are signed instantly and get to tour the world? Where is the justice? It makes me want to set up my own label... but I really don't have the kind of capital available to do that... but, believe me, if I won the lottery - I would! Anyway, I'm meant to be writing a review... so I better get back to work and leave my fantasies about winning millions of pounds for another time. ”