Resilience is veteran American rockers Drowning Pool’s fifth album, but it’s their first with new lead vocalist Jasen Moreno. It’s fair to say that there were high levels of expectation surrounding its release. Before the official album arrived, the band released four singles (which meant that the fans had to endure a nearly year-long wait for the album) – these singles included the punchy One Finger and a Fist and the admirable In Memory Of, a track dedicated to the memory of the band’s first vocalist Dave Williams
In comparison to their previous efforts, Resilience could be seen as a step in a different direction. It’s filled with a number of arena-filling anthems that are sure to hit the spot with their dedicated fans who prefer the bands earlier style and those planning on seeing Drowning Pool live, and it’s these anthems that are the highlights. One Finger and a Fist, in particular, is sure to go down well in a live environment – it’s a powerful slice of punch-pop with a roaring chorus and loud guitars, and it’s arguably the LP’s best song. The fate of the album rested mainly with the input of new lead singer Moreno, and he didn’t disappoint. It’s a thrilling affair from beginning to end, with impressive guitar riffs and a strong vocal performance by Moreno, who creates vastly differing moods in the tracks through skilled use of his malleable tone. This means that the album can successfully vary the mood of the listener, which is a rarity in the somewhat stagnant metal scene of today.
It’s a rounded and interesting record, but it seems that the band may have focussed more on the music than the lyrics. Saturday Night, for example, seems a bit… Well, a bit clichéd. If you were expecting another Bodies then you may be slightly disappointed, as this new direction does include a bunch of somewhat predictable lyrical subjects. However, this arguably makes the album more accessible and less intimidating to listeners who may not be used to this genre of music.
Album highlight Life of Misery (which sounds a tad like Last Resort by Papa Roach – that’s never a bad thing, right?) stands out, mainly due to its insanely catchy riffs and its empowering and aggressive lyrics. Overall, Drowning Pool have managed to develop and progress their sound to incorporate new listeners, through a more focussed sound that does not overwhelm, but one that is still powerful whilst still not losing the heavy and familiar origins of their previous work.
