The Delancey, NYC

June 28^th, 2008

By Rosa Henriquez

If you live in New York City, and live for metal, chances are you already know that there are a couple of digs around town where you can have a few beers and catch some sweet underground shows. On the weekends especially, places like The Delancey put on metal showcases to take advantage of the hordes of metalheads looking to wet their whistle and satisfy their urge to destroy in one sitting. Expensive drinks and claustrophobia aside, the greatest thing about sitting through hours of really really BAD unsigned acts is that, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll find one great band that makes the whole damn night worth it. Then you can wander home, drunk and satisfied.

This is the disclaimer for Saturday’s Dirty Bomb Party, and this is what I expect when I pay my due at the doors. Soon enough, I stumble into a room full of random guys and gals pumping their fists in the air awkwardly to an equally awkward band who sound like they should have used their Hot Topic wardrobe budget on a rehearsal space and some music lessons instead. Great way to start the night.

The next few hours are a blur of shots, noise and rancid-looking dudes trying to score with the hottie burlesque dancers. Typical. But, to my delight, just as the place seemed to be winding down and losing its collective attention span, something unexpected happens. Resolution 15, a four-man band that includes a 7-string violin (and no guitars) take the stage and prove that sometimes good things DO come to those that wait. The guys got on stage sometime around midnight, and while I would have expected to see people crap out on the increasingly enticing soft lounge chairs, it was all eyes (and ears) on them. Not a single person was sitting, wandering or even talking at some points during the set.

I know my ears definitely perked up. Sure, Apocalyptica has been gaining a lot of hype for their four-cellist lineup, and yes, violins have been attached to folk metal and other oblong versions of what you might consider to be metal, but what was being belted out onstage was nowhere near folk, chamber music or anything along those lines. This is thrash. This is loud. This is a kick in the fucking face. 

By the time they were done with “No Recourse” and their closer, “The Good Life,” jaws were on the floor. Res 15 saved the night from being a total wreck on my ears and sanity. Unfortunately, they couldn’t save me from upchucking five hours worth of drinking in the girl’s bathroom. Needless to say, the night ended shortly thereafter.

Well, moral of the story – don’t mix your drinks, and don’t write off the entire night based on a couple of bad openers. I have a feeling we’re all going to be hearing more about these guys real soon. Check ‘em out at www.resolution15.com or their myspace (www.myspace.com/resolution15).