SECRET RULE is an Italian Metal band formed in 2014. The Resilient is their eighth full-length album, and it is packed with heavy riffs, massive rhythms and soaring vocals. Released June 17, 2022, via 7HARD Records, "The Resilient" is an excellent record with anthemic choruses and bombastic tunes.

The record opens with "One More," an anthemic track with a choir and a lot of angst. The keyboards in the background create tension and a feeling of dread. The opening sets up the main guitar riff beautifully. The vocals somehow hit high end head voice and convey all the anger the lyrics indicate should be there. So many bands use distorted or harsh vocals to portray this rage, making this a really impressive feat hearing it in a different register.

"Time To Reset" has a heavier riff offset by airy keyboard tones. The vocals are lower register and darker. The chest voice is so powerful! The rhythm is so, so solid. The reprise where most of the instrumentation drops out is really cool. I love how they add in the male vocals to bring more to this section. The guitar solo is fantastic, but one of the best parts of it is the tempo increasing during the solo, only to have it drop back to "normal" again. That was skillfully done.

Next is "Unlovable," a tale of loneliness and desperation. It begins with forlorn keyboard tones before the guitars kick in with a massive riff. There is then a drop off that features light drumming and more haunted keyboards. The vocals are astounding with Angela going from dark and husky to a soaring head voice. She has excellent pitch and excellent control of her vibrato. This is a lesson in how to perform a song. Her slide down to a distorted tone that ushers in the male vocals is really amazing.

"Obsession" and "The Illusion" have futuristic and techno sounding intros respectively. This is just more proof that SECRET RULE can cross genres with ease. The sheer amount of influence heard on this disc is astounding. They come at the compositions from multiple angles and write each one to fit the theme and the lyrical content.

The album closes out on a high note with "A Little Piece of Joy" and "The Hope." First, we get the power ballad that lets us know not all is dark and gloomy. The heavy guitar after the intro is so well paced and tuned that it almost gives a new meaning to power ballad. The tempo is really cool, not going to fast, but staying really heavy. Then, "The Hope" takes us out with an acoustic guitar and vocal warbling that is exceptional.

SECRET RULE has done something quite epic. They've blurred the lines between multiple genres, crossing from one style to another and never suffering a loss of power or identity. Bits of industrial and gothic and techno pop up in different songs, giving each a different feel, but all within a consistent sound. The skill of each individual band member brings all of this together into a killer mix of symphonic power metal.