Bill Neely is back at it again, and this time he’s got something to say. With “Resistance,” the first punchy single off the upcoming album Pith & Vinegar, Neely’s newest sonic experiment as Headlong Retreat is roaring with defiance. If the title didn’t clue you in, the track is a full-on, boots-to-the-ground protest anthem wrapped in crunchy riffs and righteous indignation. From the first fuzz-drenched guitar riff, “Resistance” immediately kicks open the door and demands your attention. The groove is classic protest rock with a twist—gritty but melodic, catchy yet grounded. The drums march. And Neely’s voice is thick, earthy, and just raspy enough to sound like he’s been shouting at the news for a decade. It guides us through a rally cry for the disillusioned and the defiant.
“Show up / speak up / take a stand,” he sings, while the backing vocals chant like a chorus of comrades in the trenches. It’s protest music that doesn’t just talk—it calls you to act.
And then there’s that album art: the shattered face of what looks like Lady Liberty, cracked and crumbling. It’s not subtle, but it’s not supposed to be. It screams what the lyrics preach—something’s broken, and it’s time to push back.
With Pith & Vinegar set to drop soon, “Resistance” is a sharp, searing appetizer that proves Headlong Retreat is a band charging straight into the chaos, middle finger raised, and guitar in hand.
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Review by: Naomi Joan