IRONCORE RESISTANCE is an American band that has now released its second album titled "For the Fallen".  The band has an intriguing origin story.  Lead singer and guitarist, David Willie's uncle first founded the band in 1968.  He tragically died in a car accident in 1972, and it was after looking at some old photographs in 2009 when David decided to resurrect the band.  Evidently Zakk Wylde discovered them and they were able to establish a sizable fan base touring as openers for BLACK LABEL SOCIETY.

"Live Like You're Dying" opens up the album with a groovy, almost Sludge-like offering, a quick look into the band's style.  The slide parts sound a lot like classic Dimebag riffs.  The vocals sound like a different shade of Pepper Keenan, and the mosh part at the end sounds less convincing.  The next track, "Sons of Chaos," is built upon three chords that are played practically throughout the song with the exception of an interlude.  The end result sounds close to tough guy Hardcore with the large hanging chords.  It comes across as the worst elements of BIOHAZARD during the verse parts, but the heavy part does display some impressive double bass.

"Tears of Yesterday," the fourth track, could be looked at as the band's possible breakout radio hit.  It sounds much like AOR material from the last 20 years or so.  The angst-ridden chorus seems made for radio play as the once-clean guitars are the focus of heavy distortion, the vocals are now almost-screams.  The eighth track, "Lost," is certainly the heaviest thus far and of the album as a whole.  The influence of classic PANTERA is evident, but without the mid-range present as such, proper Dimebag-styled pinch harmonics sound unfortunately thin.  The tenth track is titled "Decide to Fight".  This song has to be mentioned because it is the pivotal moment for the amount of lame present with its call and response part.  One truly cannot help but cringe.

Perhaps it is the production, for the guitar tracks seem thinner than they should sound.  That may be the way preferred, but if that is the case, then turn them up!  As they flirt with the genre of Sludge Metal at times, the guitar has to be either louder or more massive to sound sufficiently heavy with bands like CROWBAR out there crushing skulls with gargantuan studio and live guitar tone.  If a point of reference is needed, one can compare the tone to Hardcore bands, a simple, cranked tube amp affair.  Maybe the problem is this reviewer's love for Southern Metal and disdain for radio bands.

This is a good album by a good band.  Their musical ability shines through the quality songs present on this album despite my personal dislike of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and MUDVAYNE, both bands listed as influences on their Facebook page.  One could easily hear any of these on AOR radio today.  The problem is that it isn't quite clever or heavy enough for the average fan of pure Metal, let alone Extreme Metal.  Ultimately, dedicated Metal fans purchase more albums than fans of the radio who are flightier and more frivolous with their choose of music.  The obvious answer is that the band must stand firm on their sound and refine it as they can't be insulted nor can they yet be truly recommended.