xIron Sharpens Ironx (CREDIT: Shauna Ingersoll)

xIron Sharpens Ironx (xISIx) is a Blackened Hardcore/Metal band from Muskegon, Michigan formed from the remnants and pieces of multiple music endeavors. Its current line-up features lead vocalist/guitarist Larry Passenier, lead guitarist/vocalist Jason Ingersoll, bass player Jeff Hostetler, and drummer Adam Eklund. xISIx has morphed into a full-fledge band since the release of The Tragedy of Mankind EP (2020,) which was essentially a one-man band with Passenier playing every instrument himself. "Emotion Over Sincerity" is the first single to be released from their upcoming EP, The Aftermath of Tragedy, and was recorded right in Muskegon, via Exit Door Productions by guitarist and secondary vocalist Jason Ingersoll.


Basslines were recorded by bassist Jeff Hostetler at Red Obsidian Media Productions. Ingersoll, then, mixed and mastered the project from start-to-finish. Strongly rooted in Hardcore Punk, xISIx's sound incorporates both Black & Death Metal influences. The band cites Converge, Dying Fetus, Cattle Decapitation, NAILS, and Vein.fm as influences on their latest batch of material. We're proud to be premiering the music video for xIron Sharpens Ironx's "Emotion Over Sincerity," which was filmed live at Downtown Original Underground Sound venue Skelletones in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vocalist and guitarist Larry Passenier shed some light on their inspiration behind the track: "the inspiration behind this song speaks to the endless cycle that we live as humans."

xIron Sharpens Ironx, live (CREDIT: Cam Truppa)

"We are never satisfied with what we have and that constant need for more validation and consumption of materialistic and manufactured material has become a means of life for many. Rather than focus on mental health or the many problems the world struggles with on a constant basis, we tend to become obsessed with celebrity court cases, the latest fads on TikTok, gate-keeping on message boards, and politicians that could give two f**ks about us. Cut your ties and turn off your television. Instead of being drawn into meaningless media, work on bettering yourself and the world for you and your loved ones," Passenier continued. xISIx is a band full of members that have been a part of bands ranging from technical Death Metal to Indie Rock and use their individual creativity and backgrounds to write music that is a cohesive sound that creates its own identity.


Larry Passenier (current member of Colt Snuffer & The Dead Horsemen, former member of Infinite Design, Time of Plague, and Beyond Hatred,) Jason Ingersoll (current member of Infinite Design,) Jeff Hostetler (current member of DRINK THEIR BLOOD & Empiricist,) and Adam Eklund (current member of Infinite Design and former member of Enrapture.) "Emotion Over Sincerity" will go live to streaming services this Friday, June 17, 2022, with the full EP, The Aftermath of Traged​y, going live to streaming on July 1st. Physical copies of the EP will first become available at xIron Sharpens Ironx's CD release show on 7/1 at 7:00pm with friends in Hoods, Smash Your Enemies, The Cutthroats, and Arcline at Skelletones in Grand Rapids, MI. Pre-Save xIron Sharpens Ironx's "Emotion Over Sincerity" on your streaming platform of choice now.