Okay, Path of Resistance was a more hardcore project of Earth Crisis and their friends that convened the first time while certain members of Earth Crisis allowed injuries brought on by a tour accident to heal. Their last album, Who Daresââ¬Â¦Wins came out almost ten years ago. It was panned by many hardcore purists, but for some was more loved and revered than Earth Crisis was. Path of Resistance was and is again a straightedge pride band. In a day and age when the edge is probably duller than it has been, the band patched up their differences to give straightedge hardcore the kick in the ass that it needs. That's not to say that there aren't a slew of straightedge bands out there; but, it sometimes seems like a passé part of the hardcore and punk culture. No matter what, the Path is about their lyrical message.
Path of Resistance still leans on a beefy, almost metallic sound that supports the weight of three vocalists that trade of lines and then do numerous amounts and variations of gang vocals. Each vocalist has a distinct voice that gives great variation to the songs. On Can't Stop the Truth, the Path do not rewrite history or make any great leaps in how hardcore records are made. Instead, they turn in an album that is simply a good hardcore record that will make many feel nostalgic for mid to late nineties metal-tinged hardcore (not metalcore).
Throwing down the gauntlet with "Can't Stop the Truth", Path of Resistance deliver a song that is wholly indicative of what one can expect on this new album. Listening to this makes me remember what great sing-along parts are supposed to sound like (almost as if I had forgotten). The Path emphasize certain parts of the lyrics well this way. This song in particular kicks the album off like freight train. "Haunted" has a great part in it. About midway through the track, it changes on a dime. The music becomes almost melodic and the tempo picks up slightly. The vocalists trade off bits of line that it almost becomes difficult to follow who is singing what. It works. "Blood Trail" has a plodding bass intro that foreshadows a strong rhythm that comes when the rest of the band joins in later. "The Mission" is a song that actually has a kind of lead guitar part. The vocal patterns are pretty good as well. The outro makes this song as it will probably induce many a prison riot at their shows. "Occulted Hand" is solid all the way through and does not really have any slow parts. I dig the vocal parts. "Intro" is the Path of Resistance theme song. It is sure to incite pile-ons, guaranteed.
I have to admit that Path of Resistance surprised me with Can't Stop the Truth. It is much better than I thought it would be. The downside is that the album is missing the "Counter", "In Honor's Name", and "Fallen Prey" type of standout tracks that were present on Who Daresââ¬Â¦Wins. This record is solid and fun to listen to, especially while driving. It is a good hardcore record.
