Victory Records, the Chicago imprint, promoted Path of Resistance as the “Wu-Tang Clan of hardcore,” a label that stemmed chiefly from the project’s oversized roster rather than any rap influence in its sound. Formed as a brief detour by members of the Syracuse straight-edge act Earth Crisis, the group specialized in lean, elemental hardcore laced with metallic edges. Three vocalists, each possessing a forceful delivery, handled all lyrics, which addressed only straight-edge themes.
During a 1995 Northwest run with Shelter, Earth Crisis encountered black ice; drummer Dennis Merrick sustained injuries severe enough to halt touring. While he recovered, the remaining members assembled additional musicians and tracked the album Who Dares Wins, issued by Victory in 1996. Its front cover showed Syracuse straight-edge youths gathered outside a derelict building, faces hidden by ski masks and bodies adorned with X symbols; the rear depicted friend “Crazy Sean” receiving matching X tattoos on his hands. Credits listed Earth Crisis vocalist Karl Buechner and guitarist Kris Weichman sharing leads with longtime associate DJ Rose, alongside guitarist Scott Crouse, Ian “Bulldog” Edwards on guitar, ex-Framework frontman Shane Durgee on bass, and former Earth Crisis drummer Mike Riccardi.
Beyond a Syracuse New Year’s Day 1997 gig that attracted more than eight hundred attendees, the band performed only once more, appearing unannounced after a Madball set later that year. Intended follow-ups for Trustkill and Equal Vision never materialized, and the project folded by December. Rose later appeared with Prayer for a Fallen Angel while the Earth Crisis musicians resumed activity until their own 2001 disbandment; Weichman joined God Below. A one-off reunion concert took place in April 2004, followed by another performance the subsequent New Year’s Eve; those shows eventually produced the 2006 Victory release Can't Stop the Truth.
