CD Review
The Casualties
Resistance
Season Of The Mist
2012
☆☆☆
By Chris Kiebzak
The Casualties have been a main stay in the punk rock scene, pushing angst and questioning society, since their inception in 1990. The spiked haired renegades were one of the first bands to represent the street punk moniker which now serves as a seperate household term in the aggressive music department. Fast forward more then twenty years after their drunken, basement debut EP and their now polished, guitar driven, hybrid sound, shines greatly above their past in the form of, Resistance, the groups latest effort.
Unlike late 90s releases For The Punx, and Underground Army, quality was an obvious component in making this unique record which embodies all of the thrash, punk and metal influences the band now brings to the forefront.
The intense opening guitar riff in “My Blood, My Life, Always Forward”, kicks things off in a fresh way when comparing the sometimes formatic discography The Casualties possess. Right from the start, guitarist Jake Casualty, shows off his now much smoother approach at his beloved fast playing style which accompanies the rythem section with a new, melodic force. All while not straying too far from their classic no hold bar punk rock sound.
The thunderous bass intro of “Warriors On The Road”, a song describing the rigorous yet fun lifestyle of touring, brings the band back to their simple street punk roots proving to be a highlight of this 16 song LP.
One thing that seems to stay consistent throughout the history of The Casualties though, is the scratchy, loud, in your face vocals provided by frontman Jorge Herrera. While the general take on the music may have progressed, the voice stayed the same, and good thing too. Although Herrera may have succumbed to harsh criticism in the past, Resistance provides the perfect soundtrack to underlie his intense vocal stylings and thought provoked lyrics. The multiple use of backing vocals and chants help to spice things up throughout, most noticeably on “It’s Coming Down On You”.
The one thing quickly realized is that after fourteen years under this lineup these four “punks” have finally found their true sound together. A sound that mixes multiple genres of punk and metal, utalizing each individual instrument thoroughly. On par with the bands other best effort, 2004′s “On The Frontline”, The Casualties have struck intense punk rock gold here with Resistance.
Track Listing
01. My Blood, My LIfe, Always Forward
02. Behind Barbed Wire
03. Resistance
04. Modern Day Slaves
05. Warriors on the Road
06. South East Asian Rebels
07. Morality Police
08. Brick Wall Justice
09. Always Walk Alone
10. Constant Struggle
11. It’s Coming Down on You
12. Life On the Line
13. No Hope
14. Corazones Intoxicados
15. Soul of Fire (bonus track)
16. Voice of the Outcast