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Path of Resistance

Can't Stop the Truth (2006)
Victory Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on October 17th 2006

There was no bigger, no more influential, no more well known hardcore scene in the `90s than that of Syracuse, New York. And while that statement is at least slightly influenced by the fact that it is my hometown, one cannot dispute the unwavering musical and social influence of Earth Crisis. Plenty of bands changed the musical landscape of the time, but no other band was able to really propel their ideals like the vegan and straight-edge forbearers of Earth Crisis.

In the spring of `96, in light of a van accident that left EC drummer Dennis Merrick unable to play, the remaining members of EC turned to another musical outlet. Joining up with well known vegan and straight edge advocate DJ Rose -- Path of Resistance was born.

Playing no more than a handful of shows between their short run in `96 and `97, and their brief resurgence in 2004 and 2005, it’s been quite a while since their last record.

Exploring many of the same themes as their heralded debut, Who Dares Wins, Path uses their trio of vocalists to really drive every point home. Between DJ Rose and the duo of Karl Crisis and Bulldog, the ferocity never once relents. Bringing three different styles, and three different deliveries to the stable, every song is varied enough to keep things fresh and hard-hitting. The anthemic sing-alongs only serve to further drive the message home.

Even to someone like myself, who can’t identify with the edge and vegan mantras, plenty of the lyrical content revolves around political and social issues that anyone aware of current events could take hold of and understand. There’s messages in this album that anyone can identify with, that anyone can grab hold of and make their own. And the music backing it all -- is just as hard hitting as ever. The riffs never stop pounding, seemingly getting harder and heavier by the song. At no moment do the members of Path waver in their songwriting scope or lyrical convictions, launching a straightforward assault on the mind and the senses at the very same time. Any fan of metallic or old-school hardcore will find plenty of musical moments to grab hold of. “Best of My Best” is a storm of fury, with all three vocalists sharing equal time, and the gang vocals injecting some real energy and vigor into the mix, while “At Full Strength” relies on much more metallic riffing for its raw power.

You don’t have to be affiliated with any of the same things Path are to enjoy this record, but for those that are, this is a band that truly has a lot to say about their beliefs. They’re a band that 10 years ago, gave kids all over the country something tangible and something meaningful to grasp on to, and now in 2006, they’re doing it all over again.

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Snakes (November 1, 2006)

this is some of the cheesiest shit i've ever heard, no score at all!

Anonymous (October 23, 2006)

"Fuck anyone who says Earth Crisis is not the shit."

Earth Crisis is not the shit.

Can I get dinner & drinks first?

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

1. I second the East Bay comment.

2. As for Syracuse as some sort of punk rock mecca, outside of Black SS and Bad Cops, it's mostly bad. I'll take most of the 2000-2005 Buffalo punk bands (No Time Left, The Control, Robot Has Werewolf Hand, Running For Cover, They Live, etc.) over anything Syracuse has put out.

Anonymous (October 19, 2006)

The best hardcore of the 90's wasn't defined by its scene, but I'm willing to bet the East Bay fast hardcore stuff was even better back when it was relevant... Not to mention, more interesting, intelligent, and funny than this meathead bullshit.

-Will

hitlerbadzakgood (October 19, 2006)

boston had during the 90's and still has a stronger, more well known hardcore fanbase than up state new york.

just forget about the slew of shitty bands that came out of it.

LMChc (October 19, 2006)

While I agree with you that the upstate area* does put out a great wealth of music, I'd like to see somebody else take a crack at it every once in a while - no sleight to you or your writing.**

* What the hell do we call ourselves, anyways?
** Bias was the wrong choice of words, I apologize. Hit me up on aim at 'irafervens' and perhaps I can better explain myself.

Anchors (October 18, 2006)

I honestly don't feel I'm being biased in my reviews of Cuse/Rochester/Buffalo bands. It just so happens that this area puts out a wealth of amazing hardcore and other stuff that I really dig.

As far as the knowing band members -- doesn't matter. I don't know anybody from The Path other than talking to Karl maybe once, and it got a 7 anyhow on the merits of the music. Conversely, I know some of the Achilles dudes, and I gave their first EP a 4.

Anonymous (October 18, 2006)

go vegan

LMChc (October 18, 2006)

As much as I like to see area bands show up on this site, I think that every once and a while Anchors oughta let someone else take a crack at a central/western new york band, for the sake of an less biased opinion.

Not to say that Anchors is intentionally biased, but knowing the guys in the band isn't always the best way to decide which review you take.

Anonymous (October 18, 2006)

i wanna throw rotten ground beef at these guys

Anchors (October 17, 2006)

Will, what a surprising and original comment!

sirens (October 17, 2006)

earth crisis, lawl.