UMUR "Exist to Resist" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US power/thrash metal act Hades. The album was released through Art of Music in 1995. It´s the successor to "If at First You Don't Succeed" from 1988, so there is a 7 year gap between the two album releases. Lead vocalist Alan Tecchio got the offer to front Watchtower in 1989 and although he left that band again in 1990 (after recording the "Control and Resistance (1989)" album), his abscence from Hades of course disrupted the flow of Hades releases. "Exist to Resist" features the exact same five-piece lineup who recorded "If at First You Don't Succeed (1988)".

Stylistically the music is slightly darker and heavier than what the band have released before. Tecchio is a world class singer, and although he hits the helium notes a couple of times during the playing time, his performance on this album is actually pretty varied and he also delivers both more raw and mid-range vocals with ease. The rest of the band are also well playing and it´s obvious these are seasoned musicians. The combination of heavy thrashy riffs and rhythms and a singer like Tecchio has been done before by artists like Realm and Toxik and maybe most famously by Sanctuary/Nevermore, but it´s still an interesting combination of musical styles.

Unfortunately "Exist to Resist" features some of the same flaws as the two preceding studio albums, and firstly that´s a sound production which is decent but not great. The material could really have prospered from a more powerful, clear, and detailed sound production. Secondly the songwriting is a bit mediocre. There´s nothing bad on the album, but it´s not really great or particularly memorable either. I´m fairly entertained while listening to the album, but it´s not an album I´m able to mention many tracks from if asked.

So upon conclusion "Exist to Resist" to my ears sounds a bit like another lost opportunity for Hades. Musically they have everything needed to succeed, but their compositional skills and choice of producer just aren´t up to par with other similar contemporary artists/releases. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.