The Resistance, Scars
It was just a few short months ago that I proclaimed I couldn’t wait for the debut full-length from The Resistance — Jesper Strömblad (founding guitarist of In Flames), Glenn Ljungström (also formerly of In Flames), vocalist Marco Aro (ex-The Haunted) and Chris Barkensjö on drums. Their initial offering, the four song EP Rise From Treason definitely showed solid potential. Well, Scars is here. But does it live up to the lofty expectations that I cemented in my peanut-sized brain?
Yes and no, but mostly yes. The music within these twelve tracks is aggressive, slightly melodic and delivered with more than enough fury. In fact, Marco Aro sounds like he has a personal vendetta to settle as he barks and growls through each track. Hell, even his more melodic delivery often found in the choruses of this album are delivered with plenty of vitriol. Musically, the band straddle a myriad of influences — melodic death, thrash and even some metallic hardcore are hurled at your cranium with determination. Chuck in some solid groove and melody and you’ve got yourself some seriously memorable material that’s sure to stick to your ribs for a good long while.
“Clearing the Slate” gets us started off with some of the more violent and pissed off material on Scars. It’s a beefy track that has its throttle slammed to the floor with thrashing death metal, driving riffage and Aro’s rabid delivery. The song not only clears your palate, but wipes it completely fucking clean of any pretense upon reading who’s in the band’s line-up. This isn’t In Flames reincarnate here. The Resistance is a beast all its own. Blasting drums and a massive wall of riff erupts from the speakers right from the start and don’t let up until the song is over even as the melodic influence creeps into the guitars. It’s a great way to let the world know that you mean business.
“Your Demise” doesn’t quite pack the same burly punch as its predecessor, but it carries the scorching torch admirably through squealing leads, pile-driving rhythms and Aro’s vicious barks. The song reminds of The Haunted a touch (that’s to be expected considering who’s singing) and also has a moshtastic hardcore feel. There’s a solid groove flowing through this song that bleeds into the remaining tracks. Well, except for the absolute pummeling and rumbling bass of “To the Death” — this song is a straightforward boot to the side of the head. The groove rears its infectious head again during the chorus of “Expand to Expire,” after a several vicious body blows and cranium shots. Man, I don’t know who got on the wrong side of these guys, but thank you. This is some seriously angry metal.
The slower pace of “Imperfected” couldn’t have come at a better time in the album. After four absolutely bruising songs, a little down time is needed. Entombed heavily influence both the buzzing riffage and Aro’s delivery a bit here. It’s a massive song that will get hair flying in more than one or two circle pits this Summer, especially as the melodic chorus arrives. Holy Hell, this song is catchy. “The Serpent King” brings in a more traditional albeit aggressive take on melodic death metal. It’s a pretty damn solid song. The rolling drums of “Eye for an Eye” sounds like the band has an army of drummers on hand for this one. Again, it’s got a sweet, head-banging groove flowing through it with some serious aggression. Album closer, “(I Will) Die Alone,” is one hell of a song — powerful, melancholic, aggressive. It’s got a little bit of everything from the entire album to summarize it all wonderfully.
Scars isn’t necessarily the album I was expecting after first encountering The Resistance’s EP earlier this year, but I’ll be damned if it hasn’t sucked me in head first. It’s not a revolutionary album by any means to tell you the truth. What it does have, however, is one of the better performed and produced albums I’ve heard this year. The music within these twelve tracks are aggressive, delivered masterfully and full of head-banging energy. I can’t say that I really need that much more in an album to enjoy it, over and over and over again.