'Satyagraha'
(Self-released mini-CD)
MARK: 84/100
Although most Metal bands use violins in order to increase the melancholy and doom of life, Resolution 15 belong to that category of bands preferring to electrify violins and make them sound like distorted crushing guitars.
After a Buddhist chant as an intro (and also as outro at the end), "Refuge", "Sufferers Rise" starts the aural siege; this song is rich with variations, such as a catchy refrain, angry declamatory vocals on a fast drum pattern, thrashy backing vocals, Metalcore parts, odd drum patterns and even a violin solo. The Buddhist prayer closes the circle and "False Duality" starts with a not electrified violin, alternated monophonic voices, creating a crescendo which is planned to awaken your angst.
While "Malus Olympia" is a perfect crossbreed between Apocalyptica, Meshuggah and some hieratical vocals reminding the early Flotsam and Jetsam with a sublime violin solo before the modern Thrash riffs, the title track has the same function as "False Duality", preparing the listener for "The Good Life", a composition able to reconcile fans of old and new Thrash.
Almost 7 minutes alternating the whole range of structures dear to the NY act compose "The Insurgency", a song comprising Thrash, Thrashcore, Classic Heavy metal riffs, vocal intermezzos from G.W. Bush and other White House spokesmen; on this occasion a special effort is required from the violinists and the singer
Honestly, if I didn't know electric violins are used here, I wouldn't think but guitars and I assure you it is real fun watching the band playing live as depicted in the promo clip of "Sufferers Rise". Still, what matters most is the record quality, which is good, although the last 2 songs are a bit harder to assimilate because of a slight lack of smoothness in some parts. The quintet deserves a label and maybe the key would be to stop using the definition experimental Progressive Thrash metal. It is not incorrect, yet most people associate with a certain kind of music that has saturated the market. It is not the band's fault, but I am convinced labels receive lots of unsigned bands' MP3's and stuff and they don't have time to listen to everything, so when they approach a newcomer without a popular career behind them they start the selection from the biography and the first thing they're interested in is what category they fit in. I know it's wrong, but it occurs 9 times out 10, thus they should just use modern Thrash metal with electric violins. The devil is in the details and there's nothing Resolution 15 can complain about: the sounds from the renowned Zing Studios are great, the digipack is minimal but effective, and most importantly, they've gained my respect with this 7-track CD.
Guys, don't give up!
Line-up on this record:
Earl Maneein - 6 string electric rhythm and lead violins
Kenny Cruz Grohowski - d.
Jim Robertson - electric b.
Joel Lambdin - 7 string electric violin
Nick Latrick - v. (also in Engine and Lies Beneath)
Contacts:
Astoria, NY - USA
Official sites:
http://www.myspace.com/resolution15
http://www.resolution15.com
Demo-/Disco-graphy:
-Resolution 15 (CD - 2007)
- Satyagraha (Mini-CD - 2010)
