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The opening track of this EP is what we like to call 'classic Iron On'. One Man Band is cute, poppy, self-reflective and bittersweet. The way in which these four, often conflicting, elements battle it out for supremacy is what makes the Brisbane four piece such a pleasure to the ears. The song is instantly assigned to the looping tape in your head, a place it keeps itself for days at the very least.

Showing Signs highlights the bands willingness to explore the darker side of their sound. The band is guilty of often building their songs solely on the contrast between the the gentle female sounds of Kate Hooper and the varied style of Ross Hope. On Showing Signs Hope overpowers. The angst is restrained and drenched in pop sensibility, but it still showcases the often blissful rougher, emotional side that the band can produce.

The two tracks that follow, Snow and Can't Concentrate, are gentler, more introspective and ultimately less appealing. Snow is built off a single word trade between 'tango' and 'tangle'. Clever, but not enough to give the song the substance to keep it interesting. While Can't Concentrate threatens to explode into a beautiful mess on several occasions but, disappointingly, never quite gets there.

The closing track, Terrible Year, is the clear highlight of the five track release. The feedback heavy intro makes way for the underpowered Hooper who almost finds herself drowning in the blissful fight between the noise and the catchy pop melody. This battle between vocals and rawer sounds is a road that Iron On haven't really traveled down on their previous work. They once again build up the middle portion of the track with a well executed trade of lead singer duties. This sends the song into autopilot, traveling along off it's own natural power, without sounding predetermined or forced. It's this organic feel to their music, occasionally captured on their previous LP Oh The Romance, that is the essence of what is appealing about Iron On.

While the slower middle portion doesn't play to the strengths of the band, essentially weakened by the solid pop bookends, this is still a highly enjoyable EP. On The Verse Iron On prove once again that they are still a cut above the rest of those in their field, and edging ever closer to mastering their sound.