The 13th album by Midnight Oil (known as The Oils to their fans) begins with what sounds like a church organ, as if they’re commemorating their resurrection in 2016 following a ten-year hiatus. It only seems logical that this Australian band, which is known for its environmental and nuclear commitments, re-emerged in 2022 into a world plagued by these issues. Produced by Warne Livesey (Diesel & Dust, Blue Sky Mining, Capricornia), Resist aims to criticise the complacency surrounding the climate emergency, without being overly pessimistic. Of course, the furious guitars (as well as thunder in Last Frontier) are as prevalent as ever, but there’s also a sense of hope in songs like We are Not Afraid, We Resist, and the single Rising Seas. To top it off, this album is incredibly melodic and frontman Peter Garrett’s voice really shines. As if to draw attention to the modern relevance of the subject matter, they’ve also added a few synthesizers to the acoustic rock sound that this band was originally known for (Nobody’s Child intro). This album is apocalyptic and motivating in equal measure and echoes this best-selling band’s motto: "It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” © Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz