The front track of Headlong Retreat’s Pith & Vinegar album called “Resistance” launches immediately into its main theme. The song is a forceful protest anthem which echoes Green Day’s American Idiot’s boldness together with Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World’s gritty sound. The song starts with its first beat and unmistakably declares its mission to wake you from passivity by shouting its message and requiring your attention. It’s a rock with a message, and that message is loud and clear: Hold onto your voice and never surrender your power.
Bill Neely has always written songs with a biting edge and in this work, he fully embraces his talent for incisive commentary. “Resistance” expresses political greed and false promises through its lyrics and sounds as if it originated from a noisy garage where the news was turned off. The tone is urgent, but not preachy. The delivery throbs with primal energy which compels you to grip your fists and scream the chorus at the world. Though he works remotely from Ireland, Neely’s collaboration with his long-standing partners remains unbroken across continents showing distance doesn’t weaken their joint message.
“Resistance” transcends its musical boundaries to become a moment of significance. It doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. Defiant energy runs through the track as the guitars produce grinding sounds and vocals deliver precise punches. This anthem demands to be heard at protest rallies while also serving as the perfect soundtrack for days filled with frustrating news reports. It’s catchy, but it’s also real. When remaining silent seems like giving up this song demonstrates how important it is to raise your voice and shows how music itself can become revolutionary.
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