Resilience (Drowning Pool album)

Following the departure of vocalist Ryan McCombs in 2011, Drowning Pool recruited Jasin Todd, formerly of the band Soil, to fill the role. The band entered the studio in late 2012 with producer Kato Khandwala, known for his work with Breaking Benjamin and Papa Roach. The recording sessions took place at The House of Loud in New Jersey, where the band aimed to capture a raw, aggressive energy that harkened back to their early work. Todd's arrival brought a new dynamic, and the band wrote over 20 songs, ultimately selecting 12 for the album. The title Resilience was chosen to reflect the band's perseverance through lineup changes and industry challenges.

Resilience is characterized by a blend of alternative metal and hard rock, with heavy guitar riffs and anthemic choruses. The album's lyrics explore themes of personal struggle, overcoming adversity, and defiance, as heard in tracks like "Anytime" and "Die for Nothing." Critics noted that the album had a more straightforward, groove-oriented sound compared to the band's previous releases, with some drawing comparisons to early 2000s nu metal. The song "Saturday Night" stands out as a more melodic, radio-friendly track, while "Blind" and "Low" showcase the band's heavier side. The album's production is polished but retains a live feel, with Todd's vocals ranging from clean singing to aggressive shouts.

Upon its release, Resilience received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic praised the album's consistency and Todd's vocal performance, while some reviewers felt it lacked the distinctive edge of the band's earlier work. The album peaked at No. 72 on the Billboard 200, a lower position than their previous album, but it performed well on rock charts, reaching No. 15 on the Hard Rock Albums chart. The lead single, "Anytime," was released in March 2013 and received moderate airplay on rock radio. The band promoted the album with tours across the United States, including a slot on the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival.

Despite being the only album with Jasin Todd, Resilience also marked the final studio recording with guitarist Stevie Benton, who left the band in 2016. The album's cover art, which features a phoenix-like bird, was designed by artist Paul Brown, who had previously worked with bands like Korn and Slipknot. A deluxe edition of the album included three bonus tracks: "Broken Again," "The Monster," and a cover of the Metallica song "One." The cover was recorded as a tribute to the band's early influences and was later released as a digital single. Notably, the album's track "Life of Misery" was written about the band's experiences with the music industry, and the song "In Memory" was dedicated to late fans and friends. The album sold approximately 11,000 copies in its first week, a modest figure that reflected the band's declining commercial fortunes at the time.

Alternative metal

A genre of heavy metal music that combines heavy riffs with experimental elements and often features melodic vocals.

Nu metal

A subgenre of alternative metal that emerged in the late 1990s, blending metal with hip-hop, grunge, and other influences.

Eleven Seven Music

An American record label founded in 2006, known for releasing rock and metal albums.