Don't sleep on Iron Reagan

Dropping two weeks after the inauguration of Donald Trump, crossover thrashers Iron Reagan’s new record, Crossover Ministry, couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

Eschewing the typical pizza-party fare of many crossover bands (with the exception of the moshable “F--k the Neighbors) the lyrics cover a wide range of current topics, from political corruption to corporate greed.

The album kicks into high gear right away with lead single “A Dying World.” While listening to tracks like this it’s not too hard to discern where the band’s political allegiances lie, especially considering that vocalist Tony Forresta’s main band, Municipal Waste, recently released a shirt featuring a gory graphic of Donald Trump shooting himself in the head with the caption, “The only walls we build are walls of death.”

Far-left stance aside, this album is a solid example of what crossover thrash should sound like. It hits the sweet spot between heavy d-beat punk and groovy mid-tempo thrash. The riffs are catchy, the lyrics are memorable, and the pace changes quickly enough to keep the listener hooked. This one’s a banger, so don’t sleep on it.

For fans of: Municipal Waste, Power Trip, Suicidal Tendencies

• Album: Crossover Ministry
• Artist: Iron Reagan
• Label: Relapse Records
• Songs: (1) A Dying World (2) You Never Learn (3) Grim Business (4) Dead With My Friends (5) No Sell (6) Condition Evolution (7) F--k the Neighbors (8) Power of the Skull (9) Crossover Ministry (10) More War (11) Blatant Violence (12) Parents of Tomorrow (13) Bleed the Fifth (14) Megachurch (15) Shame Spiral (16) Dogsnotgods (17) Eat or be Eaten (18) Twist Your Fate