Resistance - A Tale Of Decadance
This is the French Revolution (could not help it!), meaning this is the Resistance from France. Having formed in 1998, a demo, one full length and a split release behind them, ‘A Tale of Decadance’ is their latest full length opus. If you care about Fenriz’s opinion, this band were “band of the week” some little time ago, kudos to the band as they clearly work hard for their passion. Concept albums are sometimes walking dodgy ground with me, this one is based on a novel by Lewis called “The Monk” and features amongst others, guest vocals from The Lamp of Thoth’s The Overtly Melancholic Lord Strange. Apparently the main influence on this band is fellow countrymen Killers, but from my first listen, I find they also like some Iced Earth, the vocal phrasing sounds remarkably like that old older release featuring Matt Barlow.
My only criticism with this album is the spoken passages, they are rather annoying and long winded, but this is a concept album and the story has to be told folks. ‘Loss of Innocence’ takes some thrash and some traditional metal music and follows the enlightened path of creating quality metal songs. There is a little for everyone, guitar interludes that soulfully capture the required moment, a thunderous drumming display and a constant air of thoughtfulness in the arrangements. The aforementioned spoken passages start out ‘A Premature Burial’ then you are quickly suckered into the metal-ness of days gone by, harmonising monk chanting and a breakdown of bouncy headbanging groove, again those strong vocals bring out the best in this band. Sometimes the production sounds a little less than flattering, there are a few flat notes in ‘Conjurer of Fate’ but then you have a musical experience that is pretty much matching the big boys in terms of delivery and passion. The album closer ‘In Expiation of His Crimes’ is a 32 minute track, whilst the main body of the song is just under 9 minutes long, that old chestnut of silence and hidden tracks comes out to play, you wait another 23 minutes before you hear the words “I don’t want to talk to you anymore you empty headed animal….etc….your mother was a hamster and you father smelt of elderberries…” that’s one weird way to complete this release, but for the patient amongst you, knock yourself out!
This is an album of good quality, strong arrangements and a talent that is welcomed in the massive world of traditional metal and heavy thrash. As a concept album, it is not too far down that route in all fairness, there are not really any self-indulgent tracks; there are songs of power, songs of pain and songs that are simply great metal tunes. You would do well to check out this release.
My only criticism with this album is the spoken passages, they are rather annoying and long winded, but this is a concept album and the story has to be told folks. ‘Loss of Innocence’ takes some thrash and some traditional metal music and follows the enlightened path of creating quality metal songs. There is a little for everyone, guitar interludes that soulfully capture the required moment, a thunderous drumming display and a constant air of thoughtfulness in the arrangements. The aforementioned spoken passages start out ‘A Premature Burial’ then you are quickly suckered into the metal-ness of days gone by, harmonising monk chanting and a breakdown of bouncy headbanging groove, again those strong vocals bring out the best in this band. Sometimes the production sounds a little less than flattering, there are a few flat notes in ‘Conjurer of Fate’ but then you have a musical experience that is pretty much matching the big boys in terms of delivery and passion. The album closer ‘In Expiation of His Crimes’ is a 32 minute track, whilst the main body of the song is just under 9 minutes long, that old chestnut of silence and hidden tracks comes out to play, you wait another 23 minutes before you hear the words “I don’t want to talk to you anymore you empty headed animal….etc….your mother was a hamster and you father smelt of elderberries…” that’s one weird way to complete this release, but for the patient amongst you, knock yourself out!
This is an album of good quality, strong arrangements and a talent that is welcomed in the massive world of traditional metal and heavy thrash. As a concept album, it is not too far down that route in all fairness, there are not really any self-indulgent tracks; there are songs of power, songs of pain and songs that are simply great metal tunes. You would do well to check out this release.
- The Preach
- Loss of Innocence
- The Bloody Nun
- A Premature Burial
- Conjurer of Fate
- A Silent Kill
- Revenant
- The Rape
- In Expiation of His Crimes
Emanes Metal Records
Reviewer: twansibon
Jan 15, 2011
Jan 15, 2011
Next review:
Macabre - Grim Scary Tales
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