Though both bands play their own variations of metalcore, this split release is an unlikely partnering. While With Resistance hail from New Jersey, Twenty Inch Burial call Portugal home. Despite being separated by the entire Atlantic Ocean, these two compliment each other well. Each band contributes three songs to this split from State of Mind Recordings.
With Resistance kicks things off with "Yo, Larry's Wearing a Throwback," a technical feat not unlike material from acts like Remembering Never or It Dies Today. They blaze through that quickie in no time and move right on to the next track, "'No Gets It." Structurally speaking, the writing on this track is leagues better, while the previous resembled a child at a talent contest. Vocalist Kris even chimes with some rather catchy melodies during the latter portion of the song. The hook is all but a memory on With Resistances last contribution, "I Like the Updated Version a Little Better," which fully showcases Mike's drumming skills and Joe's searing guitars.
On the flip side, well if this were a vinyl it'd be the flip side, we hear from Portugal's Twenty Inch Burial. "All Hell is Breaking Loose" combines European thrash-metal guitars with, gasp, screamo reminiscent choruses. Nothing new here. "I Don't Know if I'm Going to Regret This for the Rest of My Life" contains more of this formula, which despite it's banality, is something that they're really good at. Unfortunately for Twenty Inch Burial, the whole metal/screamo combination is rather played out in the United States right now. But being from across "the pond," I'll cut them a little slack for being late to the game.
Nevertheless, both bands are talented songwriters and play their styles well. There is no denying that. The bad news is that I kind of got over the whole metalcore/screamo fad a couple of years ago. It takes a lot ingenuity for bands of that genre to impress me. With Resistance and Twenty Inch Burial failed in that respect.
