Iron Claw ‘Iron Claw’
Iron Claw ‘Iron Claw’
Rockadrome, 2014 / recorded 1971-74
ROCK/LION049-V-1
2 × Vinyl, LP, Remastered, Limited Edition
I’ve been burned by a couple unknown 70s metal reissues recently, so I was pleasantly surprised to drop the needle on this double LP of epic greatness that was just brought back to life by Rockadrome's Lion Productions.
Iron Claw was an early UK metal act that was trying to keep up with Black Sabbath and that particular strain of early doom sounds. The Claw actually started as a Sabbath tribute band before gradually incorporating more of their original songs to their repertoire. This collection features 16 tracks, all recorded between 1970 and 1974.
This comp proves these guys were definitely at the forefront of something… a healthy dose of power riffs, blues lead guitar, psychedelic freak-outs, proto-prog noodling and sinister minor chord progressions. This is a hybrid that’s something special.
Lyrically, it’s typically space cadet, not dissimilar to much from that era. To wit: “Crossrocker” refers repeatedly to something called “psychoreactory,” with repeated mentions as to how it “lies in your brain.” In the notes they admit this is a made up word, and the title itself was swapped in because it sounded ‘heavier' than the alternative. All told, it’s pretty gloomy material.
Remarkably, this treasure wasn’t officially released until 2009. This latest incarnation has been remastered and comes in a gatefold jacket with a 17 x 11 poster and lyric insert.
Even remotely interested in metal? Grab this... it's a lost treasure.
