Photos and Writing by Kyle Ostrander
If you stumbled into a pitch black Iron Lung show, you would assume there must be at least 10 musicians on stage to fill a room with that much energy and sound. But you’d be amazed to find it’s only a duo of guitar and drums that creates a sonic force on par with that of an arena band. Sunday night’s Iron Lung performance at Union Pool in Brooklyn delivered a relentless barrage of distortion, frenzied moshing, and a raw, DIY energy that made the venue feel more like a basement show than a formal stage.
Consisting of Jensen Ward (drums) and Jon Kortland (guitar), the group has been a staple name in the hardcore scene for nearly two decades. The two bonded early-on over their shared love of old medical practices and equipment, which gave way for the name Iron Lung. Their music sometimes references these procedures in a literal sense, while also using them (and other topics) as metaphors to discuss broader social and personal issues. Their latest release, Adapting // Crawling, is their first new full length album in over 12 years. The record is emotionally raw and covers a range of societally relevant topics, including – depression, failed healthcare systems, distrust of government, and grieving loss. That same intensity and emotion were powerfully channeled into their live performance.
The venue was soon overflowing with fans, occupying every available space. Iron Lung configured the stage in their trademark set up with drums and guitar facing each other at center stage. “NYC! Should we do this? It’s been a while, but we have some new songs we think you’ll like. Here we go!” said Ward as the duo ripped into their set. From the first strike of the drum, the room’s pillars vibrated as waves of sound surged through the crowd. Backing the ferocious drums were deep, distorted guitar chords being played through not just one, but two stacks of amps. The relentless 25 minute set pulled from throughout the band’s catalog, drawing excited cheers from the crowd for both the new and classic cuts alike. When not diving headfirst into the next track, the group engaged the crowd with personal stories and sharp humor, only to reignite the room moments later with thunderous, fast-paced music. One of the standouts of the show was Ward’s ability to provide lead vocals while not missing a single drum beat, with Kortland peppering backing vocals while hitting every note on his guitar with precision. “Thank you again for coming out on a Sunday! We really appreciate it. Make sure to get some rest tonight!” said the band wrapping up their set.
Iron Lung will head overseas next month for a run of shows in Australia (July 11 – 20) and then Japan (July 24 – 29). You can follow the band on social media for the latest info.
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