IRON AGE MYSTICS PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL
Pardon the irony but I'm rather 'proud' of this album. Until this release, the word "masterpiece" had never been invoked with reference to my work. Whether or not that's an accurate assessment, I'll leave for listeners to decide.
I can state as a fact that I wouldn't have been able to pull this record off without decades of songwriting experience behind me. As well, a few very talented, albeit goofy band mates didn't hurt the mix
The messaging is most obviously political, rather cheeky, satirical, and under girded by a strong, authentic desire for peace, justice and harmony for humankind.
Lofty desires, but I can dream - and continue to do so...
"Explosive and mostly swinging. Recognizable choruses with challenging music. A great singer who knows how to translate the feel of the music well. The guitar work on this record deserves a big compliment. Just like the excellent production.
"Nice drumming, stable bass work and guitarists who go completely wild, in keeping with the music. An excellent rock debut."
ROCKPOORTAL Magazine, The Netherlands
"The album itself — [is] a debut masterpiece of fitting larger-than-life rock-out proportions designed to inform, awaken, and inspire."
BK On The Scene Music Magazine, Canada
"Kevin Connelly’s searing vocals project unrelenting accusation at our would-be corporate masters, but a little unapologetic derision is reserved for the masses who have been shown the truth but would rather remain blind. The Mystics challenge fans with the only question that matters: 'What Ya’ Gonna Do About It?'
With precision [and] laser-sighted lyrics, IAM charges right up to the front lines of the struggle to reclaim Meaning and Purpose in Rock ‘n’ Roll."
JASON VELAZQUES, The Greylock Glass, USA
"Just dropped their debut album PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL. With what is going on in the world political wise and in the USA, this album is cutting edge political music.
"While the themes can be dark and it’s a middle ground between acknowledging the change makers and exposing the claimed wrong doers. Melodies are deep and diverse, riffs are thrusting, while the vocals and lyrics are a journey."
No Filter Radio Show - CHUO 98.1 Montreal, Canada
"PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL comes forth with an intense energy and a charismatic set of vocals that will immediately draw listeners in.
"The song 'Save It For The Revolution' soars based on the individual's ability to shine alone, and as a whole.'While You Were Asleep' - The supersonic vocals link together Queensryche and the Stone Temple Pilots while IAM puts their own indelible fingerprints on it.'You've Got The Power' - The considerable vocal range provides a boost that one will ride out until the Iron Age Mystics close up shop.
Few albums manage to stay consistent from beginning to end, but PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL kicks butt from beginning to its end."
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Top tracks: "Pride Before The Fall,""Save It For The Revolution" and "What Ya' Gonna Do About It?"
NeuFUTUR Magazine, USA
Artwork by Mr. Fish
AUDIO
"There are bands that bring an artistic creative element to their lyrics, and Iron Age Mystics are not only artistically creative with their lyrics, but compose some of the most inspiring revolutionary and politically themed music since Rage Against The Machine."
Metal Nexus Magazine, USA
"I think IAM have a brilliantly arranged, performed and produced album. Truth be told, hard rock is not my favourite genre (although I did hear some Bowie undertones), but I was blown away."
GARY TOPP, Legendary Canadian Producer, Manager, Promoter – Toronto, Canada
VIDEO
Never Enough
Thought Police
Big, Bad Motherfucker
What Ya' Gonna Do About It?
Pride Before The Fall
Save It For The Revolution
You've Got The Power
Interview - SiruisXM
GALLERY
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PHOTOGRAPHY by EK Park & Jeff Speed
"A debut masterpiece...One of the smartest and most politically motivated albums of the year."
ERIC ALPER, "That Eric Alper" Show
SiriusXM, Canada
CREDITS Album, Video & Live
Kevin Connelly: Vocals
Kevin Connelly, Allan Wohng, Tanya Godinho: Background Vocals
Allan Wohng, Chuck Brown, Sil Simone (live), Des Leahy (live): Guitars
Kevin Saulnier, Kevin Connelly: Keyboards
Greg Mount & Alexander 'Sascha' Tukatsch: Drums & Percussion
Clayton Rudy: Bass Guitar
Voice-overs:
"Big, Bad Motherfucker" - Senator Bernie Sanders (as himself), Shawn Devlin as "The News Anchor"
"Information Outlaw" - Vincent deTourdonnet as "The French Revolutionary," quoting Stephane Hessel
"Save It For The Revolution" - Kevin Connelly quoting Sharon English
"While You Were Asleep" - Kevin Connelly as "The Soapbox Revolutionary," quoting Henry David Thoreau
"Connelly’s views are based on broad, analytical reasoning and empirical data. Nothing he says or writes about is off the cuff or reactionary. At heart he is a humanist and a pragmatist, preferring not to conform to any rigid political doctrine either in his personal life or in the music he composes for Iron Age Mystics."
JASON SCHNEIDER, FYI Music News, Canada
Video:
"Never Enough" produced by Pasada Media
"Pride Before The Fall," "Thought Police," "Save It For The Revolution,""Big, Bad Motherfucker" and "You've Got The Power" shot at BAHM Studios. Toronto
Songwriting Credits - All lyrics - Kevin Connelly
Music - Kevin Connelly, Allan Wohng, Clayton Rudy & Greg Mount
RECORDING, MIX & MASTERING
Recording - Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 engineered by Dan Meery at Verge Music Lab, Toronto
Tracks 3, 7, 11 engineered by Alexander Tukatsch at BAHM Studios, Toronto
Mix - Bill Bell at Bill Bell Music
Mastering - Phil Demetro at the
Lacquer Channel, Toronto
"Thought Police Redux" (bonus track) Remixed by Derek Black, as well as
additional keyboards
ART DESIGN
Artwork - Giselle Silvestri, Mr Fish
Design - Mariana Grezova