Comments: In our metal world, bands like Beyond Fear, Cage, Iced Earth and Demons and Wizards have shook us awake from the sad musical state of affairs that seem to have become so part of our popular culture, and made it once again cool to bang our heads. To carry on this tradition comes Resistance’s latest venture, Patents of Control. Commanding vocals, some of the most unbelievable drums you will hear, all tied together with some evil bass and lead guitar licks, all has taken their brand of heavy metal to an even higher plain than their debut CD, Lies in Black.

This foursome has mixed solid lyrics with growling vocals, lush guitar solos, and harmonic background melodies, while at the same time keeping true to the thick, gritty sound we expect. Said to be a CD with a “... tighter, heavier, and more focused direction ...” CD engineer Patrick Miller and mixer Neil Kemon (know for his work with Queensryche and Nevermore) have both done an adept job at making their sound crystal clear and somehow the musicianship punches its way to the forefront, making it easy to concentrate on the music at hand.

The story behind Patents of Control is truly one that makes for interesting discussion. Patents of Control chronicles how it would be to live in an ideal society, one free of hunger, crime, poverty, drug addiction and misery. As the CD progresses, it focuses on the idea of thought and behavior control through the use of devices that have actual US Patents. It also continues speaking of world leaders using this information to create a new world order. The first 45 seconds of track 1, “Inhumanation,” almost seems to create a mind control with television news footage speaking of politics, a judge swearing a politician into office, and the sounds of an EKG machine keeping in time with a heart beat when suddenly you hear the ominous 5 seconds of a steady sound signifying a stopped heart, all that makes for a heart pounding introduction. Then at 3:57 guitarist Dan Luna cuts into a killer, killer guitar solo with drummer Matt Ohnemus cutting into a drum line that has to be heard. Faster than any drummer coming to mind, the double bass and use of the snare is beyond fantastic. Track 7 “Cerebral Screams,” is a punch to the head metal rocker with the first beautifully nasty 22 seconds emitting evil hisses, laughter and moans, and a woman’s voice telling the listener with a hushed whisper, “ ... watch your back, watch out - we’re coming, turn around, now is the end ... ” Track 8, “Techochrist,” speaks of the assassination of the President. Closing track 11, “Mirrors Black,” purposely off key in parts talks about “idols of gold,” and a quest to find “the final truth.”

What makes this such a standout CD, is while staying with the brand of heavy metal we expect, this CD takes liberties with sounds, lyrics and subject matter. The boys of Resistance push the limit of what they can talk about. They pull no punches, hide no feelings and lay it out on the table for all to hear. It is vivid, dark in parts (“Paternal Shift,”) and earnest in others, (“Confession of the Blackheart,” that will remind one of W.A.S.P, as the voice of Robbie Hett here sounds much like Blackie Lawless.) Patents of Control stays focused and doesn’t meander with redundant or needless notes. Resistance joins the metal world with a vengeance, and here is proof ... Patents of Control.

Band Members
Robbie Hett -vocals
Dan Luna - guitars/vocals
Dave Watson - guitars
Paul Shigo - bass/vocals
Matt Ohnemus - drums/vocals

Track listing:
Inhumanation
End of Today
Ashes of Tomorrow
One Nation Under G.O.D.
Confession of the Blackheart
Paternal Shift
Cerebral Screams
Technochrist
The Cleansing
The Alpha and The Omega
Mirrors Black

HRH rating: 8.5/10

2007 Lion Music

Executing what real metal is all about, Resistance are a profound example of the no-bullshit approach to the pulsating & grinding force in the days where production and technical allusions overcome the basis of the true identity of this blistering riff laden ear candy.

With the vibe of the first three Iced Earth records, early Nevermore, and later Death Angel all complimented with dueling leads, machine gun tempos, and a roaring backbone - Resistance know how to deliver the goods. Outspoken, with the dark thematic concept that deals with thought control, new world order, and a ‘clean and conservative’ society, Patients Under Control offers up thrashy metal opuses such as “Cerebral Screams,” “Inhumanation,” and “Paternal Shift,” while a more brooding edge is pondered upon with “Ashes of Tomorrow” & “Paternal Shift” to enhance the overall moodiness.

Patients Under Control is melodically sinister and brutal with every punch and exhibits everything that heavy fucking metal is about, where this Los Angeles band put their own ‘resistance’ towards any half-assed poser metal.

Added: November 17th 2007
Reviewer: Tommy Hash www.ytsejam.com
Score:
Related Link: Resistance website

American metallers RESISTANCE return with energetic metal fury on their second full album ‘PATENTS OF CONTROL’.  Following on from their acclaimed debut ‘Lies In Black’ the band have recorded 11 tracks which see the band honing their sound with a tighter, heavier and more focused direction and intensity which has been gained from countless live performances on the US live circuit.  ‘PATENTS OF CONTROL’ also marks the debut of new guitarist Dave Watson appearing on album with the band. 
‘PATENTS OF CONTROL’ is the story of one mans obsession to provide humanity with the ideal society.  Free of crime, Hunger, Poverty, Drug Addiction and Misery.  The lyrical concept focuses on the idea of thought and behaviour control through the use of devices that have actual United States patents.  It further deals with the idea of world illuminati using this information to create a new world order.
Musically ‘PATENTS OF CONTROL’ is a progression from the debut concentrating on big hooky vocal melodies and background vocals which may remind the listener of bands such as Iced Earth.  The individual performances on the album hold true to the Resistance sound.  Musically the album is diverse with dark undertones.  The band has created memorable choruses as well making each song stand out on its own within the concept.    With the making of the album the bands goal was to push their creative abilities as far as possible and write an album that they, as listeners, would buy and enjoy. 
‘PATENTS OF CONTROL’ sees Resistance honing their blend of traditional metal with thrash influences to brutal perfection.

Resistance - Patents Of Control
Lion Music

file under Heavy/power metal

Nima: About two years ago the American heavy metallers of Resistance released the respectable debut album 'Lies In Black' and not long ago they came up with an excellent follower 'Patents Of Control' which has outdone the debut on every aspect.

The powerful heavy metal with here and there some thrash influences is more balanced on this album. From the very first tunes of the opening track 'End Of Today' the music takes hold of you and doesn't let go that easily. Especially the guitar riffs sound utterly powerful and above all versatile. The changes in tempo are brilliantly arranged and the band sounds a bit like Iced Earth. Don't get me wrong, because I'm not saying that Resistance is trying to copy Jon Schaffer and co., it's just that the combination of power metal and thrash creates the same atmosphere (listen to a song like 'The Cleansing' for example). Singer Robbie Hett is even more present than before and manages to bring a lot of variety in his voice. It also surprised me how close he comes to Blackie Lawless when he opens his throat. This gentleman is a true heavy metal singer and leaves a horde of sissy power metal singers far behind him. The community singing in the background fits the music perfectly and really adds something extra to the songs. The powerful production does the rest.

Resistance has delivered a beautiful album which will surely conquer the hearts of all fans of hard 'n heavy. Be sure to give this album a listen!

Rating: 85/100 www.lordsofmetal.nl

It all depends on personal taste, of course, but all know a few labels where you're are always open for a new release, even if you know nothing about the band in question, right? For many MER listeners, one of those labels is Lion Music, as they have cultivated a general style for their (at least for non-instrumental!) releases where one knows what you'll get, and where the albums always have at least a decent level of quality. Resistance is no exception to that rule, and it is always worth checking out a new Lion Music release to find that they did offer fans an above average Metal CD – again!

So, to recap a bit of the band’s history: Resistance are from Los Angeles, California, and they play a mixture of Power Metal with occasional injections of Thrash and Prog Metal. As said, almost typical Lion Music stuff. Patents Of Control is their second album after the 2004 debut Lies In Black, and apart from the fact that a new guitar player has joined the band, also there is an improvement in songwriting skills that is obvious almost throughout the album. In fact, so much that in its best moments Patents Of Control has no competition to fear.

Resistance’s Power Metal backbone manifests itself in crunchy, heavy songs with a definite sense for a vocal melody, played and composed tight and playfully. Almost all tracks are around four to five minutes long, enough to fit in a break or two, change vocal styles, but not become too diverted from the goal. Singer Robbie Hett has a great Power Metal voice -- still it sounds as if he hasn't reached his full potential yet -- and the contrast of clear, melodic Power Metal vocals and Thrash shouts give all tracks a heavier edge than usual in his genre. With compositions like the opening track “Inhumanation,” “Cerebral Screams,” "The Cleansing," and “Technochrist,” the band taps demandingly on the door to the Power Metal olympus for entry.

The riffing is also remarkable on every track, and if one needs further characterization, the band could be described as a mixture of Metal Church, Iced Earth, Nevermore, and Judas Priest with an occasional splash of Into Eternity. Sounds weird? Not at all; sounds great! However, every song is rather diverse, and entertaining, so that it is not so easy to put a label on the sound and songs, which indeed is high praise for a band for their second album.

On top of the music, the album has a lyrical concept about near future abuse and means for mind and behavioral control of citizens. Stuff for which patents actually exist today! The main character strives to create the perfect society, a world with no hunger and no poverty, but is that really the desired New World Order? And what if somebody else can make use of the same tools and means, but with a radically different agenda?

Among all the praise for the album and the tracks cited, among the eleven songs are three that don't live up to the overall level of brilliance: “Confession Of The Blackheart” sounds erratic and pointless and is the only track definitely worth skipping, while “The Alpha And The Omega” with its disharmonies and weak choirs along with “Mirrors Black” -- a song which seems to be too long -- are still okay, although they draw the overall chemistry of the album downward. Especially so because two of those tracks end the album in an undeservingly mediocre way. And, another point of criticizm must be voiced, which is that many songs are created under the same blueprint. While each track is diverse and progressive, the album is of one style, up to a point where you can anticipate the course of a song even when listening to it for the first time. On the other hand, that is true for half of all albums released every month, so the band should not be judged too harshly for that.

That leaves eight great tracks – which is enough to fill a complete album, and other bands might have just stopped there! And, for that, nothing less can be recommended but a purchase, especially as the band streams six songs on their Myspace site including the criticized “Mirrors Black,” so everybody can get a good impression of what to expect.

Resistance - Lies In Black
Lion Music

Tormentor Erich: "Resistance steam roll their metal machine forward and deliver the very best of pure American metal".
Well, it is written like this in the bio of Resistance. And knowing biographies from the past I tend to get a bit sceptical when I read something like that. So I pressed play on my CD player with some doubts in my head, but they disappeared very quickly. These five guys from the Anaheim area know how to play metal!

But what the hell is American metal then? I don't know either. Many people will name this music firm heavy metal. Many others might call it power metal and I would point it out as heavy metal with some thrash influences. This kind of metal needs to be played in a strong way and this is no problem for Resistance. The band plays tight for the whole 28 minutes. The mix is raw and the guitars are in front of it, so they give a real metal effect to the sound of the album. Because of this vocalist Robby Hett needs to go deep to be convincing, but he does this without a problem. His somewhat dark voice fits the music well. All the songs are built on many riffs, a lot of breaks and enough solos. Resistance managed to write some songs that show a distinctive style, which is a big extra. Tracks like 'Wasted Time' and 'The Darkness Inside Me' are build up well, they have a quiet middle part and more power in the end. In 'Bridge To Nowhere' and '… Till Dust Return' the band puts in some more speed and if I still have to mention names I would like to point out 'Lies In Black' because of the Machine Head like intro and the Anthrax with John Bush style of this songs.

It is also nice to hear these small intro's added to a couple of songs. This shows that the band worked seriously to achieve a result like this. But okay, you do not need those intro's to understand that.

Rating: 79/100 www.lordsofmetal.nl