The Iron Roses are pissed. They are as pissed as we all should be, and they channel that righteous anger into ten tracks of catchy, finger-pointing punk you’ll want to blast outside the polls next month. Some of the best political punk is coming from scene veterans this year, like Ultrabomb’s excellent The Bridges that We Burn, and Evil Island’s debut Terraform the Afterlife.
Molotov Nights carves a different sonic lane, opting for a rock- and folk-inflected punk along the lines of Jeff Rosenstock or Against Me! Instead of melodic hardcore or abrasive noise, the Iron Roses share a disgust for fascist creep and fascist creeps, ancient politicians milking the system for all it’s worth while cutting off help for our most vulnerable groups, and power-addicted, violent cops.
“Dead Eyes” addresses the images that can numb us into inaction. “Body Count” bluntly addresses violence against women in a way that shouldn’t feel this visceral, but it must. “Fascist Lullabies” has a chant-along for “ACAB” (“A is for apple, rotten to the core”, etc.) and a huge hook. “All American” is one of the catchiest songs, with its ska-baiting riff.
“Breathing Static” might make you wipe a tear from your eye as Becky Fontaine sings, “I’m still holding on / I’m not giving in.” Her vocals are one of the record’s highlights. When she and Natasha Gray shout together or trade call-and-response, it’s powerful enough to give you goosebumps. Of course, their powerful vocals are backed by a killer band: Pedro Aida, Devon Hunt, Olivier Charlas, and Kate Outerneath deliver catchy riffs and high energy.
Two tracks with a folk-inspired fight-song feel are among the strongest. “The Good News” begins with a folk strum before the triumphant line, “We’ll all cheer when you’re dead.” The way-ohs are irresistible. It’s one form of optimism The Iron Roses offer: no one lives forever, and most of their listeners will outlast this hellscape. “To the Last” is a bouncy pub singalong that declares, “We don’t give a fuck / We ain’t ever giving up.” Closer “Rise Up Phoenix” is a powerful call to arms that seems to double as Gray’s story: “Rise up Phoenix / You’re a fucking inspiration.” It’s moving and energizing, precisely the right way to end the record.
It can be difficult to feel like you’re not alone right now, and Molotov Nights is a stirring reminder of strength in numbers and the power we can hold as a collective if we put down our devices and get to know each other. It’s also tough not to hear some of the songs on Molotov Nights and want to despair.
The second half of the record is the rising-up side that points the way forward. To the whole band’s credit, even the grimmest songs have a catchiness that makes them digestible. The Iron Roses want more than mere acknowledgement that things are awful right now, but you will feel heard if you wake up every morning dreading the night’s developments, too. It’s up to you, me, and the rest of us to do something about it.