Hailing from Central Texas-Austin specifically-IRON AGE has received a reissue on their sophomore album "The Sleeping Eye" through the label 20 Buck Spin through multiple formats as their original release only saw 777 LPs and no digital release whatsoever.  The album as a whole has remained unchanged for the past 10 years, though it is great to see it released and available to a greater audience.

The title tracks starts off the album "The Sleeping Eye Of The Watcher" begins with some atmospheric synth before kicking off immediately with a full staccato lead in from the band prior to everyone going full throttle. The song slows a bit as the verse starts up and continues the motif until the break wherein everyone returns to the faster tempo leaving behind the half-time feel, the song slows once more as it descends into an instrumental passage akin to the likes of RAMMSTEIN before fading out in synth. "Dispossessed" begins with staccato followed by a guitar buildup which lays foundation for the verse, the song slows again for the break and remains as such into it eventually fades out.

IRON AGE is ascribed as a Thrash Metal band but has some slow passages as well more akin to the likes of Heavy Metal, such as with the beginning of "Burden Of Empire" and the greater portion of "The Way Is Narrow".  The guitars have great mid-tones-most often associated with Thrash;- the bass is thick and rich, though a bit difficult to hear; the drums are dynamic and perfectly balanced neither superseding the other instruments nor fading behind a wall of sound; and the vocals cut through like a knife marking their position in the mix perfectly without the need to completely engulf and overpower all the other tracks in order to be heard.

Fortunately IRON AGE is back together once more and hopefully making music-though the lack of social networking prevents immediate knowledge of the subject-that fans old and new will appreciate for IRON AGE's unique blend of different dynamics and genre niches which they use to craft their own sound. For any unfamiliar with the band before this reissue they now have the opportunity to hear the band's sound before their disintegration and appreciate what the band has to offer, for previous fans of the album it contains nothing new and those fortunate enough to have collected one of the limited edition released would scarce shirk such for a reissue.