April 13 2026
Paul Metsa
Songs of Resistance & Resolves: 1984 to 2025
There is a lot to be angry about right now. From immigrants being kidnapped and
citizens being killed for simply speaking up for them, to trans men and women seeing
their right to simply exist being eviscerated for little more than political points from right-
wing sadists, it’s easy to see why protest songs are suddenly seeing a resurgence. But
songs of resistance have a long, storied history. And while Woody Guthrie and Bob
Dylan are likely the best-known protest singer; there are a slew of lesser-known but
just as passionate singer-songwriters who have channeled their frustrations with
society’s ills into great music - and among them is Minnesota’s Paul Metsa. The proof of
his long-standing fight for the oppressed can be found all over his latest release, Songs
of Resistance & Resolves: 1984 to 2025.
The 14-song compilation, four decades in the making, covers everything from miners’
rights to Trump’s most recent stab at dictatorship. The songs are centered around
acoustic guitars and minimal instrumentation, leaving plenty of room for Metsa’s raspy
vocals and strong lyrics to take the focus. “59 Coal Miners,” with its dobro guitar, and
the picking on “Jack Ruby” both veer a little into country, while many of the songs here,
like the opening track “Slow Justice,” are clearly rooted in classic folk. Elsewhere, “Wall
of Power” sounds like a mix of Springsteen and Steve Earle.
“Ferris Wheels on the Farm,” about a multi-generational farmer watching the tradition
die off thanks to greed, is a powerful track (despite a saxophone killing the vibe a little).
Some of the best songs in the collection are the live tracks, like the understated but
eloquent “Like Father, Like Son” and “Walkin’ in a Woman’s World.” However, the
standout track is likely the newest, “No Kings (No Crown),” a defiant protest anthem that
serves as a fitting soundtrack to resistance in the Trump era.
More than just a collection, Songs of Resistance & Resolves stands as a testament to a
lifetime of speaking truth to power—proof that protest music isn’t just having a moment
but carrying on a tradition that refuses to be silenced.
John B. Moore has been covering the seemingly disparate, but surprisingly complimentary genres of Americana and punk rock for the past 20 years.
Blurt/New Noise Magazine/InSite Atlanta/NeuFutur Magazine
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