Resistencia: Venezuelan Prog-Metal from the 80's

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   I've been thinking of suggesting this one for a long time, since lots of bands come to mind that are considered "Prog Related" yet do showcase some definitive prog leanings here and there. That said, "Resistencia" (considered as one of the very first metal bands in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world) were already born with a different mindset from most of their peers in the LATAM 80's metal scene. Starting with their influences. Marco Ciargo (one of the lead guitarists) is a self-proclaimed Yes fan (and of progressive rock in general), and his love for classical music led him to release the album "Poema Sinfónico Eléctrico" (Electric Symphonic Poem) years later, a legit contemporary classical composition that bears its own identity apart from similar attempts by Yngwie Malmsteen (with all due respect to the latter guitar genius). 
Likewise, the band themselves admitted to lean towards a more progressive sound by the 2nd album. They've made the conscious choice not to simply emulate what other bands were doing at the time and to delve into deep philosophical and political subjects, or even spiritual (as can be seen in their 1985 unreleased masterpiece "Zodiaco"). 

All that said, while the 1st album, released in 1981, is a hallmark of Latin American NWOBHM, their second offering "Estrategia Contra el Movimiento" (1983) began exhibiting some heavy progressive tendencies, with songs like "Mas Alla de la Historia" ("Beyond History"), "Escucha el Silencio" ("Listen to the Silence") and "Espejismo" ("Mirage") making extensive use of odd time signatures and "unorthodox" chord structures not commonly heard in conventional metal tracks. The entire album is filled with moments like these and do not occur in mere bursts like those found in mid-80's Iron Maiden or even Metallica. They essentially became the standard elements in their overall sound, elements that would mature even more by their next album "Dacapo" (released in 1984, same year as Queensryche's debut album "The Warning")

"Dacapo" is, in my opinion, a full-blown prog-metal album with all its bells and whistles. The Rush influence there is almost overwhelming while not wholly giving up on their signature NWOBHM sound, thus shaping the Progressive Metal sound as it's known today. 

And if that wasn't enough, "Zodiaco" (unfortunately unreleased due to it not meeting the record label's standards for so-called "commercial appeal") is even more progressive than Dacapo, a conceptual album that, as the name suggests, dives deeply into Astrology, with each track corresponding to a zodiac sign. While most of the songs are no longer than 5 minutes, the amount of musical content crammed into them is staggering, and the progressiveness therein is off the charts! And I mean it! Just listen to the Hackett-esque etherealness (if that's even a word!) of "Geminis" or the Dream Theater-like "Virgo" or the Rush-esque "Aries" to see what I'm talking about. An exercise in Progressive Metal bliss unfortunately thwarted by misguided GREED on the part of the record label. Luckily, you'll be able to find some of the individual tracks here and the entire demo here. You can also download the entire album (save for one unrecorded track) here. ***Note: keep in mind that it's an unmastered demo and the sound quality is poorer than usual, even though it's noticeable that they're using decent equipment.

Without further ado, here's a short bio:

Resistencia: Pioneers of Venezuelan Heavy Metal and Progressive Metal
Resistencia stands as one of the most important and pioneering NWOBHM bands in South America. Originating from Caracas, Venezuela, the group formed in 1977, leaving an indelible mark on the region's music scene. Their success blossomed in the early 1980s, with a classic lineup consisting of:

César Somoza (vocals)
Ricardo A. Escobar B. (drums, deceased 2010)
Luis Panero (bass)
Rodrigo Yoma A. (guitar, deceased 2007)
Marco T. Ciargo (guitar)
Beginnings and Musical Evolution
The passion for hard rock arose in the founding members during their adolescence, influenced by iconic bands from the late 1960s and 1970s such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Yes, King Crimson, and Rush. Resistencia distinguished themselves by their commitment to original music, avoiding covers of other artists in their live performances.
While their debut album, "Hecho en Venezuela," is widely regarded as a landmark release in the Venezuelan metal and hard rock scene, it's with their second album, "Estrategia Contra el Movimiento," that the band began to explore more progressive musical territory. This shift involved venturing beyond mainstream heavy metal conventions, experimenting with complex melodies, time signatures, chord structures, and lyrical themes. This progressive direction became even more pronounced on their subsequent albums, "Dacapo" and the unreleased "Zodiaco." Unfortunately, due to conflicts with their record label, the band disbanded after "Zodiaco." 
The Rock Scene in Venezuela
Resistencia shared the stage with other prominent bands like Arkangel, although competition was never a determining factor in their trajectory. The group focused on their own musical identity, maintaining cordial relationships with other local bands such as La Misma Gente, Tempano, and Cheese Factory.
Legacy and Preservation of Their Music
Despite the passage of time, Resistencia's legacy endures, although they acknowledge that their primary audience belongs to an older generation. The re-release of their albums on CD has been a complex issue, due to copyright ownership currently held by Balboa Records. However, their music is available on digital platforms and on the YouTube channel "RESISTENCIA VIDA Y OBRA."
The "Zodiaco" Album and the End of an Era
The "Zodiaco" album never saw the light of day due to a lack of interest and resources. This fact, combined with other factors, contributed to the dissolution of the original Resistencia lineup in the late 1980s, when they were working on their fourth album.
Later Projects and Reflections
After the separation of Resistencia, Luis Panero formed the band Vaudeville, while César Somoza ventured into Latin jazz-rock with Doble Via and currently leads Celacanto. Both musicians maintain their passion for music and recognize the importance of Resistencia in their lives.
An Enduring Legacy
Despite the passage of time, Resistencia remains a cult band for metal fans in Venezuela and South America. Their music and legacy endure, reminding us of the importance of resistance and the passion for music.
A Possible Reunion?
In 2023, César Somoza and bassist Victor López Inaudi have reunited to bring the Venezuelan band to life, in this instance joined by drummer Franco Melchiorri and guitarist Ruben Gutiérrez, issuing remakes of some of their all-time hits such as "Templo de la Oscuridad," "Muerto en Vida," and "Los Panas Americanos" (all of them available on their Vevo channel).

Discography:

  1981
  Hecho En Venezuela
  Color CLR-3611

  1984
  Estrategia Contra
  El Movimiento
  Color 35057

  1984
  Dacapo
  Color 35073

  2004
  Intenso
  Independent

  2005
  Zodíaco
  Independent

  2015
  Epílogo
  Independent

Samples:

Zodiaco: Aries (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIOVNItvypo&list=PLngDQk5eLnkBykEGpYqsH1CU4VFHMObUu&index=2

Zodiaco: Geminis (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9PnX3GqxBM&list=PLngDQk5eLnkBykEGpYqsH1CU4VFHMObUu&index=3

Dacapo: Amor Se Escribe Con Besos (1984):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWvqBJrgwBI

Dacapo: Hijos De La Democracia (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdFKQziiCpQ

Dacapo: Blues De La Leyenda Dorada (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ4S0IYGeKY

Estrategia Contra El Movimiento: Mas Allá De La Historia (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDEhMWUIzZM

Estrategia Contra El Movimiento: Escucha El Silencio (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t0iIM-YBEM

Virgo (1985, live TV):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyu72xkMU9I

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Edited by ChusNew - 17 hours 57 minutes ago at 14:14