Album Review: Calling All Astronauts – #Resist

Calling All Astronauts sound has been slowly fermenting, the band’s roots lie in their members former outfits, from their earliest days as rap metal outfit US:UK, through the hyperactive pop punk of Caffeine and their tenure with goth stalwarts The Marionettes, all of these flavours have been distilled to produce the gothic electro punk of Calling All Astronauts. Since 2013 the band have been steadily refining their sound, their two previous albums, 2013’s “Post Modern Conspiracy” and 2016’s “Anti-Social Network“, set a suitably defiant tone. However, the political events of recent years have reignited the band’s the band’s fury at the rise of Racism, Nationalism, Xenophobia and Homophobia, which has been fuelled by the populist mantra of right wing politicians, has been channeled into their latest full length, “#Resist“.

‘The Holy Trinity‘ is the opening call to arms on “#Resist“, electro beats are combined with overdriven guitars, elements of rap metal and and an atmospheric flair from the gothic influences, all of which is fuelled by a fury at the current political landscape. The fury never relents but this is not an album focused on the issues of their home turf, “Divided States Of America” might shift the focus across the Atlantic but the themes of “#Resist” are universal. The beats are relentless as is the fury, in particular ‘Give Them A Leader‘, ‘Resist‘ and ‘Welcome To The Blackout‘ are dark anthems for our time that build towards the album’s finalé, Calling All Astronauts defiant and furious political manifesto ‘Not In My Name‘ that draws a line in the sand and dares you to cross it.

There will be an obvious appeal for fans of Ministry‘s glory days and “Fat Of The Land” era Prodigy, this is an album of dark rage that draws form the underbelly of counter culture. “#Resist” is eleven tracks of focused rage at the far right that combines industrial, punk, gothic, metal and rave influences, maybe that’s what’s needed for social change, for the disparate and isolated sections of a fractured society to find come together and focus their rage. “#Resist” is an album for right here and right now, the best elements of underground and DIY scenes have always been a voice for a social change and a call to arms, something that is needed more than ever before. “#Resist” is a defiant and focused full length that isn’t just on the right side of the barricades, it’s building them.

“#Resist” will be available on the 5th June 2020 via Calling All Astronauts‘ Bandcamp and all major digital service providers