If you’ve never heard of Resistors, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In fact, the band’s lack of recognition seems to be the one consistent thread in their meandering existence. Starting as Scott Wolff’s solo project in Brooklyn in 2012, Resistors clings to the kind of nostalgia for 1990s punk rock that would make a Hot Topic clearance rack blush. Their debut LP, Drag (2015), came and went with all the fanfare of a dropped guitar pick.

Things got marginally more interesting in 2017 when Wolff decided to “get political,” releasing two EPs fueled by frustration with the state of the world. Predictably, these records failed to change anything, except perhaps the patience of the few listeners who endured them. By 2018, Wolff had moved to Florida—a fitting location for a band that thrives in chaos—and cobbled together a live lineup to perform songs from Rational Policy for the 19th Century (2019). The album, to its credit, had some memorable hooks, though it’s hard to appreciate them while rolling your eyes.

In 2021, Resistors released Reconditioned, their heaviest and most polished record yet. While it was clearly a labor of love, it still begged the question: for whom? The following year, the band dropped Parting Gifts (2022), a compilation of rarities and covers that seemed like a final sigh of resignation.

But no—Resistors refuse to disappear. After a stint with another band, Wolff relocated to Detroit in 2024, declaring a renewed focus on his pet project. New material, allegedly influenced by Cheap Trick and leaning into power pop, is set for release in 2025. Whether anyone will care remains to be seen.

Resistors might insist they’re creating music simply because it needs to exist. That’s nice and all, but one can’t help but wonder: does it?