Freshened for 2025, We Are Resolute presents on its Roxx Records fourth full-length album Full Armor a newfound traditional heavy metal basis in which it places emphasis on full-bore rhythm guitar, meteoric drumming and igniting bass. Further change realizes from how Full Armor is the groups first thematic album in lyrically basing (even if loosely) around spiritual warfare. Song titled such as “Thunder Of God’, “Full Armor”, “Heaven Draws Near” and “Battle Cry” not to mention eye catching ‘knight on his knees with sword at side’ cover art leaves little doubt as to the concept at hand.
Unaltered is manner in which We Are Resolute remains the project of founding members Bryan Carman (main songwriter, lead guitarist and vocals) and John Mokma (drums, guitar and backing vocals). Another constant is the return of veteran vocalist Dale Thompson (Bride), whom fronted the hard rock based groups Roxx Records first three albums: Shine The Light (2020), Only Human (2022) and Fallen Angel (2023). Rounding out the Full Armor lineup and allowing an ‘all star’ project feel is bassist Tracy Ferrie (Whitecross, Stryper & Boston).
I might have found the inaugural three We Are Resolute albums solid but also a mixed bag musically, noting my assigned graded in the 75% to 80% range. With Full Armor, however, We Are Resolute takes things to the next level with inspired songwriting - musically and lyrically - reinforced by sturdier hooks and melodies allowing for a more focused package of songs. Production also improves in that on its heavier material the group nails a prodigious sound projecting of the impactful and tenacious but sheer all the same.
Opener “Thunder Of God” represents everything that works with Full Armor: deafening traditional metal guitars, Thompson’s convincing vocals and sonorous disposition. Hooks impress as understated but marked all the same- point being I identify with the Full Armor material as catchy in a riff driven sense as opposed to commercial based. Nevertheless, it works with my experience it takes several listens but albums stronger material abides with repeat play. Lyric snippet:
The law is the hammer of death
And it’s the thunder of God
The hand of God’s wrath is revealed
Brings down the heart of the proud
Up on the mountain with lightning
Sound of the trumpet is heard
Presence of God’s love around us
Tears down he walls of our sin
“Living The Life” is another clamorous slugger. It picks up acceleration while preserving the earsplitting focus, awash in Ferrie’s driving bass - noting the lucent low end - and heavyset backing vocals, refrains hits with truncheon like resolve. Carman’s lead guitar work impresses as distorted and feedback driven rather than shred based- regardless he plays to the songs strength.
Albums title track mauls with the best of them. “Full Armor” sets a barraging tone with its blaring festivities, Thompson exhibits a flair for intense falsettos, but it also radiates a victorious resolve, the ‘full armor trusting in the Lord’ refrain approaches the anthem like. This one would sound at home on any early Saint album. Lyric snippet:
Battles raging, bullets flying all around
Enemy advancing, taking strongholds down
But we’re standing with our armor on
And the battle is already won
Time of weakness, you have fallen down
Get back on your feet, stand on Holy Ground
Enemy attacking you on every side
With your armor on you will survive
“Heaven Draws Near” is also not for the faint of heart. Several seconds of curt feedback and a haunting backend voice to start gives way to the rawer imprints that accentuate the remaining distance- a swarthy if not portent resonance brings to mind classic Bride album Silence Is Madness from 1989. However, a gladdening aspect to the song also reveals in form of a surprisingly heartfelt melody. Impression is equal parts severe and affected.
“Mind Control” separates as a fantastic instrumental. It leaves a metal guitar burnished harmony impression, Carman decorates the song with his engaging sense of melody, but also a barbed outlook, he takes ample opportune to bestow his afflictive soloing. “Mind Control” is not entirely instrumental as its title curtly repeats over the opening and closing seconds.
“Battle Cry” begins to imprinting rhythm guitar bulldozing in and out of the mix over a repeatedly chanting of ‘fight!’ Gruff classic metal holds sway remaining span, a mid-tempo affinity succeeding as aura exudes of the victorious but also the combative found in the discordant harmonies. This one proves a heavier environment finds Thompson at top of his game. Lyric snippet:
There’s a battle for your soul
Darkness rages on and on
Men plotting thinking they are wise
Only planning their demise
In the shadows, devise a plan
None of them will even stand
Saints of heaven rising up
Standing in our victory
“Broken Dreams” hits hard as anything here. Rhythm guitar throttles with near thrash like urgency and bass articulate of the statuesque- again, not immediately catchy in terms of deliberate hooks but rather engaging from a perseverant standpoint. Overridingly powerful but pensive is feel at hand.
“You Are My God” represents final in what I like to refer to as the ‘elite eight’ of straightforward metal cuts forming albums basis. It ups force to overriding energy territory, a rollicking low end sets the enlivened tone as Mokma gets a workout timekeeping wise, but reinforces a mirthful melody, I detect a boogie flavored basis drawing upon the gleeful. Lyric snippet:
And I know that He loves you
And He died to save you
And He lives that you might have life
‘Cause He is your God
He is your Lord
He is your King
Living without Him
Is living a lie
Living without His song
I’d rather die
Album includes three additional tracks that while far from bad, I find a step down. My favorite is “In Love With You”, a melancholic melodic hard rocker tinged with acoustic guitar and haunting melody that is a bit short at two and half minutes. If given opportunity to build to a better-rounded four, I would potentially rate it alongside the ‘elite eight’ despite not taking as heavy a heading.
I tend to skip “You Keep Me”, a blues twanged heavy rock piece a bit to repetitious for my taste (refrain keeps repeating again and again and again) , and “Anyone”, a somewhat plain three minutes of acoustic rock that while revealing a delicate side to the group struggles to define itself. On latter, guest Brian Rainsberger provides a smoothly melodic vocal touch. In my opinion, the two lack the technical flair embodying albums better material- track listing might have flowed better if a couple driving metal cuts had been included instead.
Good news is Full Armor closes to a ‘hidden’ bonus track cover of the Christmas song “Deck The Halls” done We Are Resolute traditional metal style!
Give credit to We Are Resolute for reinventing itself with the (mostly) straightforward heavy metal to Full Armor. Musically, album shines with its technical riff basis and intricate songwriting; lyrically it proves equally inspired in light of the presiding spiritual warfare themes. Strong band performance alongside sound production and some of the years finest cover art rounds what is by far the best effort from We Are Resolute. If into traditional metal in similar vein as Saint then make Full Armor an immediate purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Thunder Of God” (3:15), “Living The Life” (3:16), “In Love With Your” (2:41), “Full Armor” (4:02), “Heaven Draws Near” (4:12), “You Keep Me” (3:20), “Mind Control” (3:10), “Battle Cry” (3:59), “Anyone” (3:17), “Broken Dreams” (4:07), “You Are My God” (4:05), “Deck The Halls” (3:31)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Bryan Carman - Guitars & Vocals
Tracy Ferrie - Bass
John Mokma - Drums, Guitar & Background Vocals
Additional Musicians
Brain Rainsberger - Lead Vocals (“Anyone”)
