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Resistance: Skulls Of My Enemy
Resistance: Skulls Of My Enemy
Traditional Heavy/Power Metal
4.0/5.0
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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.07.2022 | Released: 22.07.2022
If you scour the Internet, you'll find a great many bands named Resistance. And why not? "Resistance" screams heavy "fuckin" metal. With this review we consider the California band Resistance, formed in 2000. However, the roots, with many and various personnel changes, go back to the Eighties with other regional bands and ongoing name changes: Heathan, Caustic Visage, and Anarchy Divine. Now, the band arrives with their latest and their fourth studio recording, Skulls Of My Enemy.
Resistance
This is my first experience with Resistance, now signed to Germany's Pure Steel Records, which is a perfect fit for both. Resistance, essentially, plays traditional heavy power metal and Pure Steel is and has been one of the best labels to promote the same in the last ten years and more. Basicall, however, Resistance is not offering anything novel or new nor reinventing the classic metal wheel as it were. Just a gander at the band photo and you can see these fellows are not youngsters, but veterans of the traditional heavy metal genres. Which in turn, leads to a few simple observations.
First, Resistance metal turns upon twin guitar harmony and ambitious guitar solos, a steady to accelerating rhythm section being infused with both speed and rock groove, and rather typical metal vocals. Most constant readers know I love classic metal, having grown up with it back in the day. I cut my teeth on proto-metal like Deep Purple and later enjoyed the rise of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and the NWoBHM movement. Resistance falls into the American scene of the latter category.
Which is to say, secondly, for the strength and consistency of the traditional style, musically speaking, Resistance are both veterans and masters, perhaps at the top of their game. The combination of inspired guitar work and galloping rhythm and groove are self-evident across this album. Highlights rise with Earthshaker, Templar's Creed, and Valhalla Has Locked It's Doors. Alternatively, Awaken The Necromancer is heavy yet with a prominent rock groove, gang vocal harmony, and a listeneable refrain infused with the same.
The wild card, as always with this listener, is the vocals. Hett is basically a metal vocalist who swings between metal chanting/speaking and screamo. He can carry the song melody but he still sounds raw and angry like having some punk influences. (Some bands of the early NWoBHM movement often drew from punk influences. Mostly, I found him an acquired taste (and hard to understand), preferring to ignore him in favor of the heavy metal music. Other listeners may feel differently. (Which why music as still a matter of personal taste.)
All in all, if you dig traditional heavy power metal with strong guitar work, you will find American band Resistance and their latest album Skulls Of My Enemy a fine and headbanging addition to your metal collection. Recommended.
The Take Away
All in all, if you dig traditional heavy power metal with strong guitar work, you will find American band Resistance and their latest album Skulls Of My Enemy a fine and headbanging addition to your metal collection. Recommended.
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