Eastpak Resistance 2004, Various Artists
Another yeah, another Eastpak Tour. The '04 variety now has its very own compilation featuring pretty much every band from the entirety of the European Tour and therefore manages to span almost every type of hardcore from the more melodic variety espoused by 7 Seconds and the Suicide Machines to all-out chest beating anthems from Unearth and Slapshot.
Basically every one of these bands has a different spin on hardcore and that's nothing but a bonus. Cataract's 'Nothing Left' veers alarmingly into Machine Head territory, as does Unearth's 'The Great Dividers' but then 7 Seconds rip out the excellent 'Still On It' before you've had time to adjust. As such this compilation can feel a bit disjointed but strip it down to it's component parts and it remains a collection of solid hardcore songs that never end up blurring into one big mix of palm muting and people running at each other.
It's also worth noting that one of the best tracks comes from one of the best bands to emerge from these shores in recent years, the inimitable Five Knuckle. With 'Circles' nestling comfortably between Death By Stereo and Ignite this surely shows that they are getting the respect and exposure they deserve. 'Circles' stands up with with the best of US talent in equal terms of brutality and intricacy without appearing to be heavy for the sake of heavy.
Covering everything on this compilation would take about two thousand words so I'll just leave it with this – if you like US-style hardcore even a little bit this is well worth picking up just for the sheer range on display. What could've been a self-congratulatory trip into one strict genre is instead a hugely entertaining collection of songs.
Ben
www.resistancetour.com
www.sideonedummy.com
