When you see the cover artwork depicting a human head severed in two, you know that this isn't some cringy Power metal crap. IRON FRONT are from Oakland, California and "Hooked" is their second full-length album after the debut "Left Out to Rot" from 2022. The band consists of five guys (Dmitri Russel -bass, Max Mahmood - drums, Jesse Decrutattalo - guitars, Cruz Garcia - guitars and Topey Plourde on vocals) and what they offer are seven ferocious tracks of brutal mix between Death metal and Hardcore in a little over 20 minutes.

The beginning is set by "Dissolved in Resin" which crushes the listener's skull with Death metal heaviness and heavy-as-a-ton-of-bricks Hardcore breakdown parts. BROKEN HOPE are the first band that came to my mind while listening to IRON FRONT, especially Topey Plourde's growls reminds me a lot of the late and great Joe Ptacek. The following "Slug Rounds" attacks with blastbeats, stomping tempo and a crushing slow part with some voice samples, this track has the potential to turn every live into a giant bloody pit with bodies flying everywhere. "Burnt By a Crack Pipe" starts with a sample from the cartoon show "Family Guy" (or at least I think this is it) and here the recipe is the same like on the previous two tracks - tons of Hardcore energy with Death metal brutality. Max Mahmood delivers crazy fast blastbeats in that piece of bloody sonic torment.

"Pig Splitter" is next with a guitar riff that reminds of BOLT THROWER, powerful rumbling bass line and the totally insane vocals of Topey Plourde. This track also has some MORTICIAN vibe in it due to the mid-tempo rhythm mixed with crazy blastbeats. The title track "Hooked" offers some Thrashy mood into the overal brutal Death metal sound and it starts with "Finish Him" from Mortal Kombat which used to be one of my favourite games back in the day. Fatality for the win! "Intestinal Siphone" is another heavily influenced by MORTICIAN track but with a hardcore touch that contributes to the brutal sound. The final song in "Hooked" is titled "Slam of '87" and it is a ferocious closing tune in the best slamming brutal Death metal tradition that is capable of breaking your neck from headbanging. And here we have some pig squeals for first and last time in the record. IRON FRONT are a very talented band with young and remarkably good musicians in its line-up. "Hooked" should be a real pleasure for the ears of every fan of the brutal Death metal sound. Only time will tell how far those Cali guys can go but I definitely hope to hear more from them in the future!