By DJ Monk
I first came across – or perhaps that should read “stumbled”, as it was quite late in the afternoon – Hertfordshire bruisers Outright Resistance on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock some three years ago. Although I was covering the event for another publication, who were more interested in the, shall we say, “mellower” ends of the bill, I still made an effort to get my metal fix on, and was impressed by the quintet’s balls-to-the-wall, rip-your-face-off approach. Move the clock forward, and the Stevenage crue are back with a new vocalist and this brand spanking new album.
And, I tell you what, the line-up may have changed ever so slightly since my last encounter, but nothing else has, as OR have ratcheted things up to the next level which picks up where that live meeting left off, especially in the rip-your-face off stakes. Because, all I can say is, after having listened to ‘Cargo Cult’ several times, back to back, the effect is like being pummelled in the chest with a sledge hammer, over and over and over again, and then having your carcass dragged to the top rope and body slammed through a concrete wrestling ring, before being dusted off and asked if you’re ready for more… and the answer is? Of course, I am, you daft bastid… bring it on big boy!
Opener, and current single, ‘Gently’ is quite possibly one of the most mis-titled metal anthems of all time. Heaving into site with a curling, snarling riff that broods with venomous intent, it quickly explodes into a barrage of a bombastic beatdown, the drums and bass (sic) thumping into you and newbie James Jest’s vocals spitting angrily into your face with such a level of intent that you can virtually hear the snot flying from your sub-woofers.
Outright Resistance describe their sound as “metalcore”: now, regular readers will know I am not a fan of anything even remotely described as such, but on this occasion the band do them a severe dis-service, as there are is so much more to their sound than many of their contemporaries in that same categorization. Yes, there are elements of the sub-genre, especially in the shouty chorus department, but overall ‘Cargo Cult’ sees OR moving on from their origins to a groovier mien which sees them reference the likes of Lamb Of God and Trivium as much as it does Parkway Drive or August Burns Red.
‘Cargo Cult’ is a very strong album, and one which definitely, and defiantly, demonstrates that the British metal scene is stronger and more evolutionary than it perhaps has been for some time. It is a marker for the genre, and a collection which will make it very hard for this combo to be ignored.
- ‘Cargo Cult’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
- Outright Resistance play The Black Horse in Ipswich (with Forged In Black, Spidervayne and more) this Friday (22 March), the Gryphon in Bristol on Saturday 6 April and Nice N Sleazy in Glasgow on Saturday 13 April.
www.facebook.com/OutrightResistanceBand/
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