Here are some reviews from the press regarding our 2015 EP Persecution Complex…
From the opening swagger of ‘Open Heart Trauma’, the catchy guitar riffs, pulsing rhythm section and gravelly rich vocals have me completing my “Is this kick-ass rock music?” bingo card in record time. I’m particularly drawn to the vocals that possess a real Eddie Vedder quality, balancing power with an emotional charge in a way that just oozes class.
‘Printing Money’ has arguably even catchier guitar parts, opting more for force than guile this time. A grungy fuzz wraps itself around some excellent harmonies in a perfectly imperfect way, sending the 90s teenager in me into a nostalgic frenzy. This is less Silverchair, and more gold or even platinum chair! There’s a guitar solo that is unearthed like an exquisite buried treasure yet, even with this injection of refined talent, the whole thing continues to possess this air of relaxed, rock star nonchalance. It’s all cooler than The Fonz on a Snowboard, playing with the latest iPhone.
Things get darker and more brooding on ‘Angel’ but they’re still delivered with the same slick and soulful honesty. The chunky guitar crashes of the chorus interplay with the vulnerability of the verses to produce some genuine energy and exhilaration. Again, the music is a fabulous vehicle for more stunning vocals, creating a sense of performance that will extend excitingly into the video that they guys intend to release to support the track.
There’s a classy note to everything the band have produced here – from the song writing, to the artwork – and if this provides even the merest nod towards what we can expect from Resin in the future, the love they’ll receive might even shift that complex.
Review by Alex Bishop on behalf of Get Your Rock Out – link
And now, finally, we see the release of “Persecution Complex.” First track, “Open Heart Trauma,” may open on a melancholy note but as soon as the rather buoyant riffs kick in it proves to be a spirited and toe-tapping opener. “Printing Money” and “Angel” harness more of the grunge influences that Resin are loved (and in some cases, unfairly lambasted) for. The former track features a superlative guitar solo courtesy of master axe-man Chez, and Dave Gandon’s vocals on the epic 6-minute closer “Angel” are capable of sending shivers down your spine. For all of the “we’re not ready!” jokes that immediately preceded Breaking Bands, so far this incarnation of Resin is proving to be particularly strong. Resin will not die!
Review by Nicola Edwards on behalf of TBFM Magazine – link
Or so we thought. The melodic intro recalls early Resin, but once things truly kick in, we are heading into all new territory. The grunge influences are still there for all to see, but we’re probably closer to Audioslave than anyone else.
After much soul searching, founder members Simon and Chez realised that what they had was too good to give up. And so the search began for three new members and, earlier this year, a new look Resin was born.
‘Persecution Complex’ is a three track EP which gives a taster of the sound of the new line up.
It’s fair to say that original vocalist James Botha had a unique and exceptional voice, and nowhere was this more evident than on their debut album ‘Embrace The Fall’.
However, last single ‘Burn’ showcased a heavier, rockier style compared to the more laid back approach of previously. If ‘Burn’ and now ‘Persecution Complex’ are an indication of the direction in which Resin are heading, then it’s fair to say that new vocalist Dave Gandon seems far better suited to the newer material.
‘Open Heart Trauma’ gets things underway. The melodic intro recalls early Resin, but once things truly kick in, we are heading into all new territory. The grunge influences are still there for all to see, but we’re probably closer to Audioslave than anyone else. And when Gandon starts to sing, any fears about the loss of Botha are put to rest. Coming at you like the sound of Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder chain smoking Capstan Full Strength in a paddling pool filled with custard and honey whiskey, his voice is a perfect fit. We’re off to a good start.
Second track ‘Printing Money’ is the only completely new track on the EP, so is, perhaps, the best track to demonstrate what Resin 2015 are all about. The familiar style is still there, but this is heavier and slightly darker. Recalling the best of the early 90s grunge scene, it’s punchy, melodic and stays with you long after it has finished.
Perhaps the best indicator of the progress Resin are now making comes with closing track ‘Angel’. If you’re familiar with the band, you may have heard a demo version, recorded by the previous line up, on the ‘Burn’ CD. Obviously that was a work in progress version, but what becomes clear when you hear the new version is that Resin are coming on in leaps and bounds. Showcasing a softer feel to Gandon’s vocals, this is a slower number, and one which would not have sounded out of place on Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’. It’s a brilliant way to finish things off.
Confession time – ‘Embrace The Fall’ (which infamously received a kicking in a Kerrang review which the band have become fairly proud of), is one of my favourite albums of the last few years. I approached this new EP with, it has to be said, a fair amount of trepidation.
Turns out I had no need to worry. If the next Resin album comes anywhere near the standard set here, then we could be in line for something very special indeed.
Review by John on behalf of Phoenix Rising – link
Most would have given up. But if you’ve met guitarist Simon Yarwood or seen the rabid ball of energy that is Mark “Chez” Roseby in action, then you’d know that giving up is as alien a concept as the voluntary removal of facial hair. Instead, they buckled down, built a massively successful promotions company (who now put on the best gigs in Leicester) and slowly went through the difficult process of finding new members. It took a year, all told, to get the right people and develop new songs, and the result is the three-track EP ‘persecution complex’, which has been garnering a substantial buzz.
Opening with ‘open heart trauma’, a surging beast that moves from a brief, reverb-drenched intro to a slithery riff that brings to mind a cross between Silverchair and Ten-era Pearl Jam, it’s a powerful number that shows just how little Resin have been fazed by the last year’s ups and downs. It’s a chunky song with strong riffs and guitar work, whilst new vocalist Dave Gandon provides suitably gritty melodies which fit the song perfectly. It’s not always easy to combine power and melody without compromise, but Resin tread that line with conviction and the powerful production helps to bring out each element with enviable clarity. ‘Printing money’ kicks off with a surging, lurching riff underpinned by Stu Reynolds’ crushing percussion. Dave’s vocal is positively Vedderish here with a subtle wash of reverb enhancing his whiskey ‘n’ fags growl whilst the guitars coalesce into a solid wall behind him. The EP ends with the atmospheric ‘angel’, a creepy downtempo number that crawls into the dark recesses of your brain and lodges there. Recalling the earliest minor-key experiments of Nirvana (before they washed everything in studio polish with Nevermind), ‘angel’ is closer to the likes of ‘pen cap chew’ and it gains greater weight through the restraint exercised by the band who carefully dole out the heavier riffs at key intervals.
Resin always were, and remain, an ambitious band. With only three tracks, Resin have done a good job of showcasing their heaviest riffs as well as a darker, more atmospheric side that only adds to their cachet. Where a lesser band would have crumbled under the weight of losing so much momentum after so successful a year, Resin seem to have come back stronger than ever and ‘Persecution complex’ is undoubtedly their finest recorded work to date. With compelling artwork, a powerful lyric video (embedded below) and remarkable performances from the whole band, ‘persecution complex’ demonstrates clearly that the best music remains firmly in the underground. Forget about your big name acts, a musical storm is brewing right here in the Midlands and Resin are the vanguard.
Review on behalf of Sonic Abuse – link
Resin have always had massive grunge influences and line-up changes have done nothing to alter that, with the classic Seattle sound still prominent on Persecution Complex. There are only three tracks, but with a running time of just over fifteen minutes there’s enough to give you a good idea of what to expect from an album, and it’s all positive. First track Open Heart Trauma starts slow but builds into a track with big riffs and an even bigger vocal. New singer Dave has a lot of power, but also an impressive range and at times sounds very much like Chris Cornell. Track two, Printing Money is where the guitars come to the fore, with a brilliant solo in the middle. The final track, Angel is the longest track on the EP at six minutes, for me a bit too long. It’s quite a slow paced song, which possibly makes it feel longer than it is. That said there are some powerful, thoughtful lyrics and it’s well worth a listen. Resin mark two are new and improved and by the sound of Persecution Complex they’re ready to get back to what they do best.
Review by Karen S on behalf of Planet Mosh – link
Track one is entitled, Open Heart Trauma and it starts with a rock feel that reminds me of the early days of grunge with some southern rock thrown in. I’m jamming out and loving the heavy riffs mixed into the arrangement. I hear some great range from Dave around the 2:52 mark and the guitar solo at 3:18-3:52 reminds me of some Bullet for My Valentine. By the end of this track I can say I want more of this! Great job so far guys and Drask and Stu are laying down some serious infections to keep it viral for sure. This is a crossover band for several genres of music and we need more bands like this to keep a steady flow of converts to the metal side of life.
Printing Money continues the slow, but heavy southern feel and keeps me hooked in like Skynyrd rocking out, if they had been born later in life that is. Damnit man the crescendo from 3:00-3:15 leading to the guitar solo is so smooth and totally kills it. This is an amazing track that needs to be heard. If you like soulful, southern, rock, and metal then check this song out. Total badass tune!
Angel shows the even tone in Dave and builds like the other two tracks in tempo. Slapping you in the face with heavy and not so subtle lyrics and cymbals crashing in the background. The rhythm is slower compared to the other two songs, but holds its own. A deep message enhanced by the video to push the issues involved. Man I can see these guys getting to a different level real soon. The bones are there!
There are some very promising sounds coming from this EP; however, there is not much meat here for me to chew on, thus the score. I feel like I need more to really flush out how well-rounded they are. Nonetheless, the first two tracks really grab my attention and the last pushes issues that need to be said for a lot of youth out in America just begging for attention from their parents. We metal heads always get crapped on for our looks and sounds, especially while young. Get out there and support this band! Get to the shows, buy the CD and have a blast!
Review by Barry Vest Sr on behalf of Metal Gods TV – link
Here are some reviews from the press regarding our debut album Embrace The Fall…
TBFM - Matt Haslam
I first heard of Resin on TBFM, I was hooked immediately! Resin may be described as a grunge rock band, and as a teenager of the 90′s I was and continue to be a massive fan of this genre, but listening to the album it’s clear that Resin have a sound that crosses multiple rock genre. So enough about genre and let’s get onto the band!
Resin are a 5 piece band from the Midlands, originally an acoustic band formed in 2006 consisting of Simon Yarwood (Guitar), Mark ‘Chez’ Roseby (Lead Guitar/Vocals) and James Botha (Vocals). David ‘Sev’ Seville (Bass) and Mark Abbott (Drums/Cello) joined around 2010. Their website www.resinband.com contains a comprehensive biography.
The title of the album ‘Embrace The Fall‘ was the first thing that stood out for me; the notion of understanding life’s challenges, the tough times, but with an underlying determination, a will not to be defeated. This sentiment is portrayed masterfully throughout the album, with instrumental sounds that reflect the insightful lyrics.
I hope to guide you through each track on the album based on how I experience it, but this album has the potential for any listener to relate personally to it. ‘Embrace The Fall‘ is a truly personal journey, one I think everyone should take at least once in their lives.
Entropy introduces us to this hugely talented band. It opens with a beautifully melodic guitar part backed by cello (played by Mark Abbott) and bass. The drums ease the listener into the song before the distorted rhythm guitar sets up the mightily impressive vocals. The song is an excellent opener. The lyrical content is masterful in its imagery. The word ‘entropy‘ is intriguing and on good advice I believe the band used the definition of ‘a state of disorder‘.
The image of a difficult relationship springs to mind, whether with another person, an addiction or internal conflict. As the first song on the album, it is a huge statement of how much thought, experience and hard work goes into Resin‘s song writing. It’s edgy rock music with levels of meaning and understanding for the listener to uncover with each play! The flow from track to track in this album is exceptional.
Carpe Diem is a delicious mix of rock chord progression, subtle breakdowns and catchy hooks. The essence of the song (to seize the day) is demonstrated in the congruence between music and lyric, as James Botha soothes us with melancholy verses and uplifting chorus vocals, Chez rips the solo up over the top of crunching bass and rhythm guitar. The drum patterns are dynamic with emotional awareness. It’s also a pleasure to hear backing vocals that are extremely well placed, complimenting the main vocal, giving depth but not overshadowing. Lyrically the song demonstrates the band’s expertise in balancing emotional vulnerability and competence. By this point in the album you know this band are very special!
Fallen takes us back to a beautifully haunting place, the dual guitar, bass and cello intro is sublime. For me, this song epitomises the sentiment of the grunge rock genre, self deprecating to start with, but then Resin change it up a notch and bring a glorious hopefulness in the second half of the song. All I can say is Fallen is angelic! listen now!
The next song Fake is the anthem of the album for me. Harder sounding, harder hitting, rip roaring guitars, anguished vocals, driving bass and some awesome drum fills. Lyrically more simple than the previous songs, but in no ways less than. What impresses me is the fact that Fake could be related to your own person or another, you decide!
Fake is followed by Instinct which I can only describe as a heart wrenching story of broken love and the need for a soul mate. Musically accomplished, the vocal performance is simply stunning. Once again the musical prowess of all the band shines through on this track.
Beskadig is an acoustic track , guitar and vocals. Sung in Afrikaans, a hint of James Botha’s background. I’m not usually a fan of non English songs, but the melody is thoroughly engaging and grips you from the start. Beskadig highlights Resin’s musically immense range.
So after relaxing the listener with Beskadig, Embrace the Fall’s next track is Clouds. The track has a gorgeous guitar intro, the band at it’s most cohesive. The edgy story of a relationship. Half way through, the track breaks down into an acoustic guitar part then switches key , bringing a more optimistic tale of hope in true Resin style!
The last track in the running of the album is Poison, again the track starts with the by now expected musical excellence, a lovely quietened down intro. I love the bass in this intro. Poison is a story of addiction and how it affects the user and the people around them. The line in the chorus ‘Before I come back down I lose a friend’, sums up the sentiment of the song. Poison ebbs and flows from melodic acoustic and edgy distorted guitar. The solo from Chez is exquisite! Air guitar fully tuned each time I hear it! I have to give full mention to Mark Abbott’s drum part in this song, fulfilling, dynamic and accomplished is the best way to describe it!
The album contains a bonus acoustic version of Clouds, which highlights the bands diversity and how well written their songs are, their translation to an acoustic setting is faultless!
I’ll finish this review with: James, Mark, Simon, Sev and Chez, Thank you for producing such an engaging, thoughtful and master crafted album!
Release Date: 5th August 2013
5/5
This album has the potential for any listener to relate personally to it. ‘Embrace The Fall’ is a truly personal journey, one I think everyone should take at least once in their lives.
Matt Haslam – TBFM
The Midlands Rocks - Will Harris
Firstly, by the end of that song, ‘Entropy’, one thing that stands out is that they’ve got a brilliant ear for a good melody; James Botha’s vocal snakes away from and back to the distinctive eastern-sounding guitar riff through the verses, before crying out loudly over the chunky three-chord descent in the song’s chorus. These are songs with instantly memorable hooks; it’s testament to the power of Resin’s songwriting that by the second or third listen of acoustic ballad ‘Beskadig’ you start roughly singing along, despite the fact the lyrics are entirely in Afrikaans.
And it’s not just the melodies. In their structure and arrangement of songs they display far more maturity for an unsigned group than you might expect. The Tool-esque verses and tuneful choruses of ‘Fake’ form the basis of a pretty decent song, but it’s the tense breakdown leading to Botha’s huge wail in the middle eight that puts hairs on end. This is where you really have to give Resin their due: on creating those big moments that matter. Like when the mid-tempo pessimism of ‘Clouds’ gives way to the triumphant sunshine of bright acoustic guitar chords and hopeful lyrics, or when the lead guitar in the final chorus of ‘Entropy’ (which could easily be mistaken for Slash) comes in with just the right note at just the right time.
Botha is no doubt a talented and distinctive singer and Mark Roseby’s guitar work is commendable, but when the songs are constructed this well the individual performances become less relevant, as what’s important is through each track the band are always moving, fluidly, in the same direction. The only areas lacking spark across this collection are some of the lyrics: while lines like ‘I’ve gone too far to turn around’ aren’t terrible, they’re hardly inventive, and occasionally lessen the impact of some of these powerful songs.
Supporting Embrace The Fall is a really solid, sympathetic production which, though hardly polished, really gets a lot out of the music despite being self-funded. Arrangements outside the standard band structure, such a dark temptation to many unsigned bands given chance to record, are prudently limited, and where they appear they really work: some light electronic babble casually perturbs ‘Entropy’ towards its end, while cello accompanies the sombre acoustic guitar of ‘Fallen’, what might be considered Resin’s own ‘Creep’, ‘Nutshell’, or even ‘Something In The Way’. The bottom line is Resin do a fantastic job of making the most of what they’ve got; really, you’d just love to hear what this album would sound like with a big budget behind it. As it is, though, there’s already plenty to savour in this debut.
Resin – Embrace The Fall – 7.5 out of 10
Will Harris – The Midlands Rocks
Loud Stuff - Dave Nicholls
Kicking off with Entropy we’re led slowly into the beginning of the album, an acoustic guitar line leading the way whilst managing to build a sense of anticipation, combining the soft and melodic sound with a sense that what is to follow is not going to be this laid back. Soon kicking into things fully, the soft and smooth opening moments of the track soon give way to an Alice In Chains style track, the melodic vocals soaring over a chunky riff backing and forming into a sound that’s raw, heavy, groove orientated and the sort of thing that’s sure to get live crowds begging for more. Funky as well as heavy, there’s something about this track which makes you move, getting you involved with what you’re hearing and setting the album up very nicely indeed. This is an approach which continues into Carpe Diem, once again offering us a track which eases into being in an almost Alter Bridge style, before kicking in with that soaring guitar tone once again. Using all of the elements to bolster the sound into something deep and powerful, this is a track which continues the groove orientated approach of the album, showing once again why we should all be paying attention to Resin, and suggesting that there’s a seriously bright future laid out in front of these guys.
Continuing the progression of the album into Fallen, once again it’s clear how able a band we’re dealing with from the word go, using the intricate guitar work to lead the way into things whilst demonstrating their understanding of music through the addition of the cello work, a combination which, on paper, doesn’t necessarily sound like it should work, but does. Dark and haunting, this is a track which uses the softness of the elements to fully accentuate what’s going on, sounding like a hybrid of Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains, and working to lure you in, keep you listening, and keep you begging for more. Pushing all thoughts of chilled out and acoustic style stuff to one side for Fake, we’re soon returned to the more ‘in your face’ and full on approach that got things going, this time leaning on the heavy riffery on offer from the guitars whilst allowing the bass and drums to build on the sound, strengthening it as it goes. Powerful, packed with hooks and the sort of track you find yourself singing along to after only a couple of listens, this is a serious high point on the record for sure, and a moment to make sure you check out.
Working through Instinct and Beskadig, the band continue to demonstrate their prowess at song writing as well as their understanding f their instruments, offering up tracks which are raw, heavy, soft and emotional, both seeming to ooze out of the speakers as they progress and showcasing what the band are capable of doing. It’s when Clouds is unleashed upon us through that a slightly different side is revealed, presenting us with a track that’s groove orientated once again, yet somehow manages to sound ‘off piste’, refusing to follow the conventions laid out by their peers and instead, offering up a style that from hence forth can be known as Resin. Powerful throughout, the raw edge to this track is what stands it out, presenting a track that packs a punch whilst still managing to throw hook after hook out for consideration, a track which holds single potential for sure.
Once again reaching another high for penultimate track Poison, the band have saved one last moment of pure genius for consideration, presenting the listener with a track that’s dark and haunting, yet emotional and catchy at the same time, demonstrating further their guile when it comes to song writing, as well as their ability to play their various instruments. It’s only then left for Clouds (acoustic) to finish the album, closing with a demonstration of how well their tracks work on different levels, and leaving you safe in the knowledge that what you’ve just heard has been something special.
I’ve been impressed by what Resin have put together here as it’s not straight forward, it doesn’t follow convention, and instead, offers up a unique take on post grunge mixed with alternative approaches from start to finish. The band clearly understand their instruments and songwriting, and the tracks on offer here demonstrate this throughout, constantly pushing the boundaries of their style and encouraging the listener to crank the volume, sit back and simply enjoy what they’re hearing – one to watch..
Dave Nicholls – Loud Stuff
Global Onslaught - Reagen Violet V
Resin might just be revolutionizing the way we see Metal /Grunge. Silver- tongued mixed with metal gloom is one way to describe this impressive 5 Piece band from Hinckley, Leicestershire. Formed in 2006, members James Botha, Mark “Chez” Roseby and Simon Yarwood decided to combine their musical genius with their true love for grunge. Armed with acoustics and an arson of Alicein chains songs, James and Chez set out to concur the open mic circuit. Perfecting their vocal harmonies whilst at the same time the guitars found their own partnership and Resin was born. But with every new beginning comes another beginnings end. Saying farewell to the old they made room for the new and through trial and error they formed a concrete impeccable group of quality musicians, adding Mark Abott on drums and David “Sev” Seville long-time bassist to the line-up. Moving there status from an acoustic three piece band to a complete an unshakable force. Hence bringing to life a collection of long awaited songs that have been lingering in the dark crevasses of their minds, releasing their debut album “EMBRACE THE FALL”.
EMBRACE THE FALL – This album, instrumentally and vocally can only be described in one word utopian. They have honed their craft and developed in my opinion a new breed of grunge a hybrid of 90’s nostalgia. Songs like “Entropy” and “Carpe Diem’ are like an endless flows of energy rushing like a wave of ecstasy & melancholy .The guitar technique is precise with solid bass ,while the vocals are bursting with raw emotion. His screams are piercing but painless almost numbing to a senses. “Fake” offers a heavier side border lining on a “disturbed” vibe. The drums blast in first followed by chugging guitar mixed with sequel riffs and in your face distorted lyrical choruses. “Beskadig” is an acoustic escape. The change ups in the vocals are refreshing. “Poison” is heartache that lingers, branded in to your soul. The drums are soft with vibrations of cymbal taps while finger picking soft chords lead you to the painful chorus. Representing the evil you have encountered the hate and pain sang not in anger but in truth understanding and Hines sight.
Like a smoggy cloud Resin shades you from the spot light of imperfection and judgement. It embraces your flaws it entertains your thoughts, fear and fantasies. It lets you project your anger while offers you realism and substance. Something the world has forgotten about. Grunge isn’t dead this is proof it has been transformed re born in to an era that desperately needs it most. Taking a page of wisdom from the veterans of grunge like Alicein Chains, Sound garden, Pearl Jam and Audio slave. It speaks of the darker side of life. The longing for the unattainable, the fear of never truly finding happiness. The swampy dark ocean of secrets we keep like waves of horror smashing us into suffocation. The dependency on other people, alcohol, drugs, sex and the need to achieve a level of acceptance in society. I suggest you go and purchase this album it’s an experience.
Reagen Violet V – Global Onslaught
Ring Master Reviews
Not to be confused with the excellent US alternative rock band of the same name (though they may not be going anymore), rockers Resin are stepping forward to find their place in UK rock with new album Embrace The Fall. Nine tracks of accomplished and adventurous grunge and alternative rock, the album is a strong and enjoyable piece of honest sounds and thoughtful invention though not flawless and at times not equipped with enough to have the passions firing on all cylinders compared to other bands and releases. The album nevertheless is overall an enjoyable slice of musicianship and imagination.
Formed in 2006 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, from the meeting of guitarists Mark ‘Chez’ Roseby and Sime Yarwood, Resin was soon a trio with the addition of vocalist James Botha, who had just relocated South Africa. After a search the line-up was completed by bassist Dave ‘Sev’ Seville and Mark Abbott who plays drums, cajon, and cello. 2010 formerly introduced the band to the public soon backed by a wealth of live shows and numerous festival appearances. Since then they have shared stages with bands such as Voodoo Six, Fearless Vampire, I am Giant, and Dr and the Medics, whilst honing their sound and craft. With inspirations worn proudly on its sleeve, the music of Resin has loud whispers of bands like Seether, A Perfect Circle, Alice In Chains and more to it, whilst coincidently also reminding of the other Resin mentioned previously and smaller US bands such as Damsel Down.
Listening to the album the qualities and skill of the members of Resin is undeniable each offering an intelligent and intriguing narrative Resin Cover Artworkwhich many bands could take note of. This makes each song a passage of emotive and personal discovery wrapped in sounds and imagination that strengthens the musical drama and lyrical potency. From the opener Entropy onwards you feel every song comes from the heart and every note and word is bred from reflective passion. The song opens up the release with an introduction of almost melancholic guitar paced by the excellent call of the cello from Abbott. There is warmth to the slowly emerging atmosphere being cast by the track, a heat accelerated by the joining vocal harmonies and tight guitar flames. Into its heart the track ambles nicely along with enterprise and infectiousness but also immediately shows the weak points of the album. Firstly as with the majority of the songs there is a too close a familiarity to others which influences have sprung from for the band, then there are the vocals of Botha. His voice and delivery is great it has to be confirmed but within the song and album, and primarily down to the third issue of the cloudy production, there is a missing snarl and depth to ignite the songs further. For all of that though the track makes a pleasing start to the album and ensures continued participation of its course.
The following pair of Carpe Diem and Fallen flounders a little in the wake of the opener but again do enough to keep attention firm, the first a Pearl Jam like blaze of sonic and melodic empathy with thoughts and the second an inventive breeze of strings alone caressing the delivery of Botha whilst adding their own emotional hues. Both though suffer from the production of the album which defuses their potency and impact. Their successor Fake does finds good company in the dulled sound, riffs and bass carving out a formidable presence veined by crisp beats, but equally the surface production tempers the success by blunting the cutting edge of vocals and guitars with a seeming lack of understanding. It is a shame as the song itself is full of promise.
After the fiery Instinct the album’s pinnacle opens up its declaration. Beskadig, meaning damage, injure, spoil, is sung in Afrikaans by Botha and in its acoustic delivery offers a charm and deep emotive presence that defies producer and mix to create a real gem of a song. Acoustic guitars and touches have a ready and welcome place on Embrace The Fall but nowhere else is it as impressive and thrilling as upon this enthralling song.
The highlight is followed by the Nirvana bred Clouds, a song which again has all the attributes to satisfy and leave the listener hungry for more but its close proximity to the Seattle band in sound ensures it fails a little flat especially when it opens up the burners. The raucous aspect of the song has no definition to its fire but with the smouldering croon which surrounds the expulsions offering strength and seductive temptation, the song is another showing the potential of the band and the wish with no disrespect to those recording the album that Resin finds understanding hands ahead on their releases.
Completed by the very decent and melodically vibrant Poison and an acoustic version of Clouds which fairs stronger than the full version to be honest, Embrace The Fall is a pleasing album but one which could have been much better, a lost opportunity in many ways. It does make for an encounter that marks the band as a rising proposition and one hopefully finding a studio able to exploit their certain talent.
7/10
Ring Master Reviews
Rock Regeneration - Elinor Day
“Embrace The Fall” is the debut album of Leicester-based grunge five-piece “Resin”, and given that the band were formed in 2006, it has certainly been a long time coming. Resin started out as a three-piece acoustic rock cover band, and only began composing their own songs after swelling to a five-man operation with the addition a full time bass player and drummer.
Resin have long been a popular live act on the underground UK rock scene, clocking up supporting gigs with bands as diverse as Voodoo Six and Fearless Vampire Killers, and playing a wide variety of festivals across the country. With this in mind then, can the album “Embrace the Fall” live up to the band’s excellent live reputation, and in doing so, justify its elephantine gestation period?
At least on the surface, it appears that the answer to this question may be “no”. Embrace The Fall has attracted some harsh criticism for borrowing from its influences (in particular “Alice In Chains”) a little too liberally and failing to establish the band’s own musical identity. Opening number “Entropy” does nothing to dispel these concerns. It’s not unpleasant to listen to, but is somewhat lacking in originality and bite, and feels a bit like musical comfort food for grunge fans.
However, as the album progresses, it becomes clear that to criticise Embrace The Fall as being generic, sub-Alice In Chains-grunge is rather unfair. Resin are clearly a talented set of musicians and their acoustic background has given them a real understanding of melody and how to create a certain mood with their music. The acoustic intro to “Fallen” is one moment that really stands out. It’s evocative, absolutely stunning, and makes excellent use of drummer Mark Abbott’s cello playing skills to suggest a menacing, melancholy atmosphere. “Beskadig” provides another standout moment of the album; it’s a slower song sung in Afrikaans and is truly haunting.
Resin’s music does not have the rich, hypnotic quality many of their influences possess, but in many ways, this is no bad thing. They are not trying to be a copy, or a tribute band, but instead are bringing their own melodic, acoustic angle to the signature grunge sound, without the radio rock choruses of many post grunge bands such as Seether, and they’re not doing a bad job of it at all. Yes, the production on Embrace The Fall often deadens the vocals, but this is a problem common to many new, unsigned bands and not something Resin should be criticised for.
Overall, Embrace The Fall is a slow burning gem of an album that gradually works its way into your brain the more you listen to it, with its bleak and haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrical themes. It’s not a perfect and unflawed masterpiece, but as a debut album and an introduction to Resin’s sound it’s certainly a promising start.
Elinor Day – Rock Regeneration
Metal As Fuck
Amongst all the latest new waves of metal in Britain, Resin are in an ocean of their own, riding a grunge fuelled wave with the winds of nineties Metallica behind it. Embrace The Fall is best described as mixing pot of Alice in Chains, Load/ReLoad era Metallica with hints of Seether, it ticks all the post grunge boxes and conservatively adds a little extra. The album’s opening two tracks establish a modern day equivalent to the classic AiC album Dirt. With strong harmonies, set to a backdrop of ever flowing grunge talent. Resin take the best Seether ever had to offer and slot it in perfectly to their sound, Many of their slower songs hold a heavy Rooster (Alice in Chains) vibe and can transcend simply into some hard rock.
A couple of tracks can get a little bit repetitive, but to expect all killer at such an early point in this bands career is too much. The stand out tracks include the opener Entropy which begins with an instrumental that sounds like something half way through a Metallica instrumental, the follow up Carpe Diem, which epitomises the best grunge has to offer, and steering clear of the obvious mistakes. A beautiful curve ball however has to be Beskadig, written in vocalist James Botha’s native Afrikaans which depicts language barrier-breaking homage to his native South African routes. A fine acoustic piece which really closes the best the album has to offer, with Clouds a generically disappointing piece, and the closing track Poison, whilst talented and catchy, acts as an extended outro before some attempts at powerful choruses which seem to collapse on themselves with the lack of power in Botha’s voice. Disappointing considering some of the talent he had shown, the chorus also holds little for the guitars and drums which had also shown heavy talent throughout. The song holds true for a pretty absentee bass appearance however, bassist Dave Seville certainly does his duties, but could do with a little more input to give the album that final piece of atmosphere it sometimes struggles to find.
A fantastic start, to the latest attempted revival that has to be respected but almost pitied at the same time. Embrace the Fall can be it’s own worst enemy, silencing any sceptics with songs such as Entropy and Carpe Diem, but unfortunately will fuel any other criticism with songs such as Clouds. Should Resin continue in this fashion than Leicestershire’s grunge scene may only be second to the classic Seattle scene.
