Artist: Resistance Album: Patents of Control Label: Lion Music Website: http://www.resistancemetal.com Reviewer: Paulo Andr้

Track List: 1. Inhumanation 2. End Of Today 3. Ashes Of Tomorrow 4. One Nation Under G.O.D. 5. Confession Of The Blackheart 6. Paternal Shift 7. Cerebral Screams 8. Technochrist 9. The Cleansing 10. The Alpha And The Omega Hanging in the balance between power and thrash metal, American headbangers Resistance are back in the game with their sophomore effort, "Patents of Control". In an age where concepts albums come by the dozen, this band doesn't want to be left behind, so here we have an utopian tale of a future world where basically it's all good. No drugs, no addictions, no poverty, no hunger... you know the drill. It's all good until we get to the part where we learn this could all be possible through the use of mind control devices. Except they're under US patents. Hum, right... Meaning, we better talk about the music. Fortunately the music is not nearly as bad as the concept. At all. In fact, if you're into thrash metal a la early Metallica while digging your Iced Earth at the same time, you might be in for a good time listening to Resistance's "Patents of Control". Inside you'll find plenty of bone crunching riffing, kick ass drumming, great guitar solos and angry vocals suiting the music. You won't find masterful songwriting as most of the record sounds pretty generic and something you may have heard somewhere else, but these are good thrashy tunes nonetheless. Can't have it all, now can you? Unfortunately, the major nitpick I find in "Patents of Control" is that pretty much every song invariably falls into straight ahead fast double bass drumming at one point or another, which may leave you kind of cold if you're looking for some more complexity. There are indeed more atmospheric moments - take for instance "Paternal Shift", in which drummer Matt Ohnemus seems to have stolen Neil Peart's temple blocks - but these are few and far between and not always work. But enough out of me and my bad character. Resistance's second album has an excellent mix and production value, thanks to the work of Neil Kernon and, despite its flaws, it's certainly one of those albums you can put on when you just need something to headbang to and simply not think too much about it. A very decent effort, certainly enough to keep fans on the lookout for what they come up with next. Band: Robbie Hett – Vocals Dan Luna – Guitars, Vocals Dave Watson – Select Guitar Solos Paul Shigo – Bass, Vocals Matt Ohnemus – Drums, Vocals