The masked heroes of The Hybris have released a second album with a very fitting name: Cozy Resistance. Review of this easy-to-the-ear yet raging record.
COZY RESISTANCE – THE HYBRIS
An ominous injective with a positive meaning, Celebrate The Good Times plays with the ambivalence in its atmosphere. The familiarity of the very 80s keyboards is met by the efficiency of their powerful guitar riffs. What’s next is slightly less threatening but as enjoyable. With more electro in its tone, Goodbye, Jerks, Heading To Earth 2 slides towards an anthemic and angry punk sound. Then, a tad more pop in its first approach, Impostor Syndrome is also a lot darker in its composition. The subject is fitting.
Behind their masks, The Hybris explores what’s behind some of our fake smiles, too. To do so, they address death directly with Hey, Death! in metal inspirations that stretch out to the gripping Falling Down. However, it’s the pop-ier Heads Off that marks me the most, with both deep riffs and catchy melodies. Next, our heroes need a break, through Superhero Break Between Gotham and Guantánamo – a short instrumental session with summer vibes. Simple but oh-so efficient.
The Game of Cat and Mouse comes in bright next and shows off their mischievous side. Here, the band has the role of the cat, who is then in charge of keeping the wolves at bay. It’s the strong and angry Keep The Wolves Away that resonates, screaming at the top of their lungs. It’s entirely satisfying, especially when a thousand scenarios are coming up on What If, full of superhero anxieties. What are they to do once they’ve saved the last town? Surely, there is still a lot to be done right now, but the question is still there as the emotional Your Abyss closes the record. What is The Hybris going to do after Cozy Resistance? A new album? Probably. And I’ll wait for it impatiently.