Resolution 15 by Resolution 15

Calling the listener to look for answers within, while restlessly pressing on in search of an uncorrupted truth in our modern society, the tracks on the 2007 self-titled debut recall the influences of bands as prominent and diverse as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Alice In Chains, Tool, Pantera, Meshuggah and early Metallica. However, Resolution15 maintains a sound that is utterly unique through the use of the electric violin as the primary instrument. Simply put, “There were no guitars played in the making of this record!”

All songs on the self-released LP were written by violinist Earl Maneein. Hailing from Queens, NY, he began playing the violin at five years of age, and has been a devoted hardcore metalhead since some kid gave him a badly dubbed copy of Metallica’s landmark album “Master of Puppets” late in the fifth grade. Trained classically throughout his childhood, he completed his studies at the Mannes College of Music, and went on to perform with artists such as Savion Glover, Jay-Z and ?uestlove of The Roots. Realizing that the life of an orchestral musician was not for him, Maneein founded Resolution15. He began by calling on Kenny Cruz Grohowski, a Miami-raised jazz/latin/afrobeat-trained session percussionist and drummer of NY-based political hip-hop/rock band “Rogue State.” Kenny’s current and previous collaborators include Ravi Coltrane, Lonnie Plaxico, Vernon Reid of “Living Colour” and Bobby Cruz. His compositions have been favorably reviewed in the New York Times, and he is currently endorsed by Latin Percussion and Factory Metal Percussion. Following closely behind was fellow “Rogue State” bandmate, New School University alumni and session bassist Jim Robertson from Chicago, Illinois. Jim has worked with various artists such as Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, and Memo Acevedo. To fill out the accompaniments and scorching leads, Earl recruited fellow violinist and former schoolmate Matt Szemela from Portland, Maine. Matt has collaborated and performed with artists such as Jay-Z, Olivia Newton-John, and Susan Sarandon. Matt also performs regularly with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, and is a founding member of the oboe-violin-keyboard trio known as Initial Ascent. The roster was finally completed with the addition of vocalist Nick LaTrick, frontman of New York-based metalcore outfit “engine.” Nick has performed with “engine.” since 1998 and co-produced the band’s debut full-length record “Silhouette On Black” in 2005, which led to their union with NY indie label Seventh Level Records. He has now officially welcomed Resolution15 as a new addition to his family.

The strength and diversity of these players is truly what makes the band a force to be reckoned with.

Earl Maneein : six string electric rhythm and lead violins

Matt Szemela : five string electric lead violins

Nick LaTrick : vox

Kenny Cruz Grohowski : drums

John-Paul Norpoth : bass

Produced by Earl Maneein and Rob Fillmore

Mastered by Dave McNair @ The Cutting Room, NYC

Album artwork and design : Bekky Peterson

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