Loincloth – Iron Balls of Steel
Take a moment to peruse the song titles over on your right. Look again at the band’s name, and the album title. What are you expecting, if you’ve never heard Loincloth before? Whatever it is, it’s wrong. Unless you were thinking “intellectual math-rock.” Or, “a band that’s trying too hard.” What we have here is great production and stellar riffage strung together haphazardly into 40-ish minutes of music that doesn’t really contain any songs. And the powermetal-meets-AC/DC imagery invoked by the ridiculous titles? Mystifying. I have no idea what kind of joke it’s supposed to be, but it’s a bad one.
I really do enjoy the production on this album, though. The guitars sound very smooth and natural, the bass sounds big and growly, and the drums are very punchy and full. It’s a very impressive mix, but it’s not one I can really write about at length because the album doesn’t really change at all. That’s the main problem with Iron Balls of Steel; it’s one-dimensional. While sleek riffs abound (“Hoof-Hearted” is a good example), I find it really hard to listen through. There aren’t many serious missteps, but one worth noting is the track “Slow 6 Apocalypse”. The way they play with the tempo is creative, I guess, but it’s obnoxious, and a chore to listen to.
The riffs on this album remind me of a fiercer Cloudkicker. There’s a little more of that metal aggression, and I find myself reminded of Mastodon quite a bit as well, especially in some of the chord voicings. Some of it reminds me of vintage Black Label Society (how I wish Zakk could still write riffs this good!). And, of course, anything this mathy is going to invite comparisons with The Dillinger Escape Plan. Loincloth aren’t that frantic, but they do occasionally partake of a little “chug chug REE chug REE REE chug meedley MEEDLEY meedley REE chug chug REE REE chug chug,” if you catch my drift.
My biggest problem with this album is that, dynamically, it is dead. Flat-lined. The album chugs along at the same energy level the entire time. What’s the point of that? Nothing happens! We go nowhere. Nothing more is accomplished during the entire album than in one song, or even one riff. And the riffs have so much potential. This album, to me, sounds like a great group of musicians that are out of touch. Maybe they see their short not-quite-songs for what they are, and think they’re blazing a trail. Perhaps they are; but it’s not one I, or anyone else, necessarily, care to go down. Ultimately, it feels pointless.
But those riffs.
About The Writer
Share This Post
Buy The Album
Band Links
39 Comments
January 15th, 2012 at 1:57 am
The name of the album and tracks were enough for me to lose interest, but the review sealed the deal. I’m not even going to bother.
[Reply to this comment]
z replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 5:19 am
Lol. I agree with all my iron balls of steel.
[Reply to this comment]
kingdaddy replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
you will be making a grave mistake if you listen to anothers opinion and dont make your own!
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
This is a good point. I’d recommend at least listening to the samples.
[Reply to this comment]
Ghoul replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 2:08 am
do you watch every movie you hear sucks? I’m not forfeiting my ability to think for myself or formulate my own opinion, but sometimes it’s just not worth it. The review, band name, and album title paint a picture that it’s not worth clicking on.
[Reply to this comment]
January 15th, 2012 at 3:54 am
it’s cool if you’re not into the music, taste is of course subjective. but if your touchstones for this album are fucking BLS and DEP i really have to call the quality of your ears into question.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Good for you.
[Reply to this comment]
January 15th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Wow, you could be a music journalist if you put your mind to it. Why don’t you give it a go? There’s a career waiting for you there.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Thanks, I’m glad you like the review.
[Reply to this comment]
January 15th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
I have been a fan of Loincloth for 20+ years since 2000. Before that in 1990′s breadwinner. Before that confessor 1987 until now. I have always love jazz/ fusion/ progressive/ metal/ RIO/ ZHEUL/ ETC…
You like the album quality. The ability of the artist and the techniques they imput to this album correct.
I have watch the growth and evolution of this band and it’s musicians for the pass 25+ years. I really think you just dont understand whats is going on and made a disrespectfull and disgracefull opinion of an awesome band you simply dont understand. quoted ["The album chugs along at the same energy level the entire time.What’s the point of that?"] You mention mastodon and dillinger, where they are awesome bands cant be compared. You must have just saw their tour recently and just popped in your head. I saw them too in dec. and dillinger killed it! Anywho you understand right these guys are the founding fathers of all things mathrock metal right??? Thats like telling Daryl jennifer and Dr. Know their new hardcore band sucks! IRON BALLS OF STEEL to me is the next level of metal! As you describe [" little “chug chug REE chug REE REE chug meedley MEEDLEY meedley REE chug chug REE REE chug chug,"]If thats all you hear then you have really missed the point. You like Some people want the meat and potatoes with side veggies( used here as symbolism) and thats what your asking for here. To explain it to you the easiest way possible= LOINCLOTH IS HUNTING IT DOWN, KILLING it AND EATING WHILE ITS STILL TWITCHING AND MOANING!!is Cut down to it’s most raw and purest form!!! That’S the metal I want and now have in my posession!!!
( This is my reveiw of your review.)
[Reply to this comment]
kingdaddy replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
loincloth fan for 10+ years mis print
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I hope you don’t mind if I review your review of my review then.
First of all, grammar and spelling. You should evaluate your editing process, if you’re going to be reviewing reviews, because reviewing reviews is serious business.
I did, as a matter of fact, see Mastodon and Dillinger recently. And Between The Buried and Me with Animals As Leaders and TesseracT (review here; http://thenewreview.net/show-reviews/the-saints-sinners-tour-featuring-between-the-buried-and-me-animals-as-leaders-and-tesseract ). And some pop punk bands at a local show in a coffee shop. I see bands all the time. I listen to music all the time. That’s where perspective comes from. What’s your point?
RE: “chug chug REE” – I said “a little.” Which is not “a lot.” Which means “sometimes.” If I had said “This is all I hear,” then your argument would certainly be valid. Also, it’s partially a joke, so chill.
Raw to you is unrefined to me. What of it? We agree about the elements. Let’s say, keeping with the food thing, that I have a really great steak. However, that steak is 10 pounds, and I’m expected to eat the whole thing. Now, to me, who in their right mind would expect someone to eat just that, and all of it? But you like that, I guess, and that’s up to you. Do your thing. But don’t tell me I “just don’t understand” (lol). It’s the last flimsy defense of the same pretentious self-indulgence that produces music like this.
This has been my review of your review of my review of Loincloth’s Iron Balls of Steel.
[Reply to this comment]
Lee replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
This review of his review of your review is one of the most entertaining reviews I’ve read in a while.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Trying not to laugh out loud at work.
[Reply to this comment]
Sean replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Is this 10 pound metaphorical steak free or do I have to pay on a per pound basis?
Oh and during the chug chug REE chug REE REE chug meedley I think you meant to weedley where you meedley’d
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
You obviously didn’t watch enough Strongbad as a child.
[Reply to this comment]
Robert replied:
January 15th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
i hate to be the one to make the obvious joke, but since no one else has said it yet… “review-ception.”
[Reply to this comment]
January 15th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
hmm, sounded weird when i first saw this get announced but I think I’m still gonna pick this up as Southern Lord has rarely failed me.
[Reply to this comment]
January 16th, 2012 at 12:13 am
Been a fan of these guys for a while now and I’m stoked for this to come out on the 17th! I’m loving what I’m hearing so far. Glad you gave it a try Tim and I appreciate the fair review, as this band definately isn’t for everyone. Your Cloudkicker, DEP, and Mastodon comparisons are spot on.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 1:07 am
Thanks!
[Reply to this comment]
January 16th, 2012 at 5:29 am
Samples sound awesome… gonna listen to the whole thing.
[Reply to this comment]
January 16th, 2012 at 8:44 am
I totally agree with kingdaddy. I think the writer doesn’t quite get it. I find loincloth way more progressive than most progressive metal bands. They are doing something completely different unlike BTBAM, which seems boring and stale to me.
[Reply to this comment]
Scott Murphy replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Tim has a different opinion from you and kingdaddy, therefore he’s wrong. Makes perfect sense dude…
[Reply to this comment]
Patrick replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Not saying he’s wrong. It’s just over his head.
[Reply to this comment]
Jen replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
*coughs* Self-righteous metal elitist. *coughs*
[Reply to this comment]
Scott Murphy replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
That makes less sense than calling him wrong. Music either sounds good to you or it doesn’t, it’s not a matter of having the mental capacity to be able to “handle” an album.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Saying someone “doesn’t get it” is a condescending, self-righteous, and flimsy defense for this kind of out-of-touch and pretentious music.
[Reply to this comment]
Jen replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Maybe he doesn’t get it. lol
[Reply to this comment]
Sean replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
See the problem is you’re listening to it with your ears. You gotta to listen to it with your soul mannnnn. You have to crumble the cd up and inject it into your veins, let it flow through body, and let the 40 minutes of mediocre riffage stop your heart.
[Reply to this comment]
Achantion replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
I’d rather have kick ass riffing stop my heart.
[Reply to this comment]
January 16th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
out of touch and pretentious music…hahaha. I hear BTBAM is coming out with some new stuff. Have fun listening to the same rehashed bullshit that passes for prog these days.
[Reply to this comment]
Scott Murphy replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Very mature response.
[Reply to this comment]
Sean replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
That’s like saying herpes flavored ice cream is good because I’ve been eating cookie dough ice cream the last ten years. Cookie Dough Ice Cream is the shit man. You can keep your herpes.
[Reply to this comment]
January 16th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
This is hilarious, just sayin’.
I hate to be the guy that pulls this card, but here we go; I’ve spent the last three years getting my music degree, analyzing music, from blues to classical, full time. Telling me anything in the sphere of heavy metal is over my head is ridiculous. Now go ahead and tell me about how theory has stolen my soul and I’m a loser music nerd and I should go make out with John Petrucci, because I “just don’t get it, man.”
[Reply to this comment]
Achantion replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Man your review was spot on, just say -to those who disagree- “go eat a cookie and shut up”.
[Reply to this comment]
Tim Meyer replied:
January 16th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Too much fun to just ignore.
[Reply to this comment]
January 18th, 2012 at 12:22 am
Im glad you got your assoicate degree! Having a degree doesnt make you an expert. You hear pretentious self-indulgence. We hear power and creativity. See I think you dont get it because MAYBE your not on the same level. Do you like bands like thinking plague, ruins, soft machine, gong, universe zero, king crimson, 5uu’s, magma, henry cow, panzerballet, confessor, false sacrament, breadwinner, brand x, akask maboul,1980 (from france), mahavishnu, etc! LOINCLOTH are taking math/ progressive metal to this level in a unique direction! It takes me 5 to 10 times of playing it back to back to firgure out where bands of this caliber are really tring to take me. You said you played IRON BALLS OF STEEL and reviewed it. To me you just didnt give it a chance. You didnt try to let it connect with your soul………………………. normally I would say opinions are like belly button and everyone has one but in your case I think you just didnt let it grab you. Sorry for your loss!
[Reply to this comment]
kingdaddy replied:
January 18th, 2012 at 12:27 am
I run a page on faebook. If you are into those bands or havent heard of them before I post alot of diffrent music. Just come wih an open mind! http://www.facebook.com/WKRPemrjfprmmf
Experimental math rock jazz fusion progressive rock metal music fans
[Reply to this comment]
January 18th, 2012 at 1:15 am
I’m into metal because I was into prog first. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway is my second favorite album ever. I played Mahavishnu Orchestra tunes in an ensemble in college (and Weather Report, and Pat Metheny, and Frank Zappa). Frame By Frame might be my favorite riff ever. I own/have owned Fragile, Foxtrot, 2112, and In The Court of the Crimson King on vinyl. I listen to Kayo Dot, Gentle Giant, and Squarepusher on a regular basis. I did a gigantic presentation on Robert Fripp in college.
Loincloth is not over my head. Loincloth simply lacks dynamics and structure. What would be the point of Close To The Edge if it was just the climax for 18 minutes? There would be no climax! No high point! Instead of the energy level being 10 the whole time, 10 just becomes 5. Becomes middle of the road and boring. That’s Loincloth’s problem. Greatness becomes monotony without variation.
[Reply to this comment]