THE RESISTANCE

With a lineup consisting of two onetime In Flames members (guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Glenn Ljungström), ex-Grave drummer Chris Barkensjö and Facedown growler Marco Aro, expectations are high for The Resistance's debut album. At least in terms of quality musicianship... and this they indubitably deliver. However, 'Scars' fails on the originality front as the quartet have predominantly opted to pay homage to late-eighties/early-nineties Swedish death metal. Throw in a few thrash flavours and mix up with a dash of melo-death (unsurprising considering Strömblad is the primary driving force behind this new outfit), and you're left with a series of compositions that are loaded with retro pastiche. Bloodbath, the sporadic side-project of Opeth/Katatonia members, have been pastiching classic death for well over a decade, and are arguably hegemonists in doing such, so The Resistance have arrived quite late to the party. The questions must be asked therefore: is there any validity to an album like 'Scars' in 2013 and do we need another bunch of renowned Swedish musicians having fun with a subgenre of yore? Your response to the former will largely determine the answer to the latter. If you like wallowing in classic death nostalgia as do this Swedish quartet then 'Scars' will prove a valid release for you. Just don't expect any degree of originality. With the duration of most songs between three and four minutes, coupled with the generally up-tempo nature of the music, 'Scars' rattles along at a fair old pace and leaves little space to take a breath. Combined with some catchy riffing delivered with technical precision by Strömblad, Ljungström and Barkensjö, topped off with Aro's distinctive growls, it's an exhilarating listen from start to finish. And while 'Scars' is compositionally retro, it has a contemporary edge due to a great sounding production and mix so at least the album's general sonics sound modern. All in all, a solid start to this new venture.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

earMUSIC

Album

SCARS

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

39:21

RELEASE DATE:

10th May 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) Clearing the Slate
2) Your Demise
3) To the Death
4) Expand or Expire
5) Imperfected
6) I Bend - Your Break
7) The Serpent King
8) Eye for an Eye
9) My Madness
10) Warmonger
11) Scars; 12) (I Will) Die Alone

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"If you like wallowing in classic death nostalgia as do this Swedish quartet then 'Scars' will prove a valid release for you."