RESOLVE : "Human"

 

This French band finds themselves at the crest of the current evolution of metal-core bands. Any musical trend changes. Change is vital. Stagnation kills creativity. In the music business, this change is also crucial in marketing. Marketing affects even metal. On "Human" they are anticipating the trends without selling out. The chorus to "Death Awaits" holds a youthful vibrance that should play well to Tiktok scene kids. A pop undercurrent has worked into this more radio-friendly take on metal-core for a few years now, it has just become more refined. Resolve just does it more convincingly. 

Meeting the emerging sense of nostalgia for the 90s, this crosses over into a nu-metal adjacent sound. The more rapped verses on "Older Days" highlight this fact. Ten56 and Paleface Swiss guest on the song, though their contributions do not sway the song's intentions. The band Issues brought this pop fusion to the forefront of the genre's current wave, but Sleep Token has brought a new level of popularity. These guys are more convincing when it comes to the heavier sections than Sleep Token. They never delve as firmly into Sam Smith's territory. 

Pop is not a bad word, as it is typified by strong vocal hooks that create the earworms haunting the airwaves. This album's pop tendencies are a commitment to hooky writing to contrast the crushing breakdowns. The progressive undercurrent of the drumming leading into "Continuum " sets the stage for the anthem to come, as the emotive vocals wander the ambiance. Even with hammering riffs the Meshuggah-like riffing begins to create a uniform sound when it comes to how they bring the heavy. This makes the pop elements what gives the band more personality . Any producer can dial in the robotic gain monster tone, but not every band can write hooky songs. 

"In Stone" might extend its reach into pop a little too far. Proving that balance works best when blending musical styles in this manner. "Comfortably Dumb' carries a hard-core rage they only relent on in the sung choruses. "Ignite" is a more hopefully intoned style of pop than what I prefer though they are effective at what they do. "Move to Trash" finds the pop sensibilities clashing with a more nu-metal mood. "New Colors' starts off as a pop ballad, then finds a bigger arena rocking power chord progression elevating it. The last song has a more playful vibe that brings Pierce the Veil to mind. I will give this album a 9 it's a great deal of fun, and heavier, more interesting take on where the genre is going.