dbltroubleProtest The Hero
August 8th 2010 07:49
The world of metal music will never be the same...
Brutality, passion, intensity and speed have been the defining characteristics of this genre for a number of generations. But in 1999, five kids from Whitby, Ontario raised the seriously raised the bar.
Protest The Hero
Rody Walker - Vocals
Luke Hoskin - Lead Guitar
Tim Millar - Rhythm Guitar
Arif Mirabdolbaghi - Bass
Moe Carlson - Drums
In 1999, when these guys were 14, Protest the Hero formed under the original name Happy Go Lucky, which they gave up before the release of their EP, A Calculated Use of Sound, in 2003 from the indie label Underground Operations.. At this point in their careers, the five-piece hardcore act featured some very impressive guitar work for such young guns, blast and punk-rock beats and a vocal sound reminiscent of early Fall of Troy, or From First To Last. But regardless of associations, there was no doubt these kids were good, and they were onto a sound and a look that could take them somewhere. The most shocking part of the performance back in this day was the lyrical content - very political, very opinionated, names were named, know what I mean? Production on this album isn't the greatest, the drums sound sub-par, and the vocals aren't pre-amped or compressed well enough at all. But even still, I can give them some serious credit for doing it at age 17.
Here's "These Colours Don't Run" - Protest the Hero, from the A Calculated use of sound EP
These Colours Don't Run - Protest The Hero
With the release of their first full-length Kezia in 2005 - everything changed. The growth of the band, and the sound they were crafting, was so awesomely apparent with this release that it abruptly thrust them into media spotlight. Protest the Hero was suddenly the name on everyone's lips. A serious contributor to this change was the band's signing with Vagrant. At this point a more accurate description of genre had been achieved. The critics would call PTH a progressive metal, mathcore band. If one of those words looks unfamiliar, mathcore is a genre defined by it's complexity and ever changing tempos and time signatures. And you'll have to look pretty hard to find a PTH track you wouldn't call at least complex. Listen to it, you'll see what I mean.
But I digress... Kezia was pure, yet brutal, awesome, terrifying, epic, raw, unadulterated musical ecstasy. The guitar work on this album is absolutely out of this world. The drums entered a new dimension of complexity. The vocal sound was refined, sharpened, and practiced. And unfortunately due to production you can't even hear the bass on this album, but I'm told it's spectacular.
Most importantly though, is the sound the band had managed to achieve on Kezia. Tracks like "Turn Soonest To The Sea" or "Blindfolds Aside" have such a thrashing and shredding, yet passionate and epic connotation that it gives many parts an anthem-like quality. The lyrical content of Kezia is quite possibly the most interesting part of the record, and an important one of many reasons that this group has earned my respect. The story of Kezia unfolds throughout the record through the changing perspectives of three characters, Kezia herself, a priest who witnesses the her execution, and the prison guard who must execute her. Maybe I'm just a huge fan of this kind of stuff, but that's really cool man...
Here's the video for Blindfolds Aside, one of the singles from Kezia
Blindfolds Aside - Protest the Hero
In 2008, PTH once again raised the bar for the world of metal music.
With the release of their second full-length, studio album Fortress, the raw talent that had shown signs of promise in Kezia had been forged and perfected into a vicious, shredding record. The guitar work got even more technical, drifting away from the genre of metal and entering the realm of neo-classical. Arpeggios and time signature changes can be found on almost every track. The band that had pushed their ability to the limit has made a world of progress. And does it ever show on Fortress, it is refined, the guitar sound has been sharpened, the drums made more intricate, and the vocals are a rhapsody of rage and passion. Walker explored a number of new vocal tonalities on this record that he hadn't previously used. The result is spectacular, and chilling.
Here's Sequioa Throne, one of the single's from Fortress
Note the intro riff.
Sequoia Throne - Protest The Hero
I know... crazy.
It was wide open for PTH, we're talking international fame here. At this point in their lives, these guys still have their entire careers ahead of them, and I can't wait to see where they all end up.
Brutality, passion, intensity and speed have been the defining characteristics of this genre for a number of generations. But in 1999, five kids from Whitby, Ontario raised the seriously raised the bar.
Protest The Hero
Rody Walker - Vocals
Luke Hoskin - Lead Guitar
Tim Millar - Rhythm Guitar
Arif Mirabdolbaghi - Bass
Moe Carlson - Drums
In 1999, when these guys were 14, Protest the Hero formed under the original name Happy Go Lucky, which they gave up before the release of their EP, A Calculated Use of Sound, in 2003 from the indie label Underground Operations.. At this point in their careers, the five-piece hardcore act featured some very impressive guitar work for such young guns, blast and punk-rock beats and a vocal sound reminiscent of early Fall of Troy, or From First To Last. But regardless of associations, there was no doubt these kids were good, and they were onto a sound and a look that could take them somewhere. The most shocking part of the performance back in this day was the lyrical content - very political, very opinionated, names were named, know what I mean? Production on this album isn't the greatest, the drums sound sub-par, and the vocals aren't pre-amped or compressed well enough at all. But even still, I can give them some serious credit for doing it at age 17.
Here's "These Colours Don't Run" - Protest the Hero, from the A Calculated use of sound EP
These Colours Don't Run - Protest The Hero
With the release of their first full-length Kezia in 2005 - everything changed. The growth of the band, and the sound they were crafting, was so awesomely apparent with this release that it abruptly thrust them into media spotlight. Protest the Hero was suddenly the name on everyone's lips. A serious contributor to this change was the band's signing with Vagrant. At this point a more accurate description of genre had been achieved. The critics would call PTH a progressive metal, mathcore band. If one of those words looks unfamiliar, mathcore is a genre defined by it's complexity and ever changing tempos and time signatures. And you'll have to look pretty hard to find a PTH track you wouldn't call at least complex. Listen to it, you'll see what I mean.
But I digress... Kezia was pure, yet brutal, awesome, terrifying, epic, raw, unadulterated musical ecstasy. The guitar work on this album is absolutely out of this world. The drums entered a new dimension of complexity. The vocal sound was refined, sharpened, and practiced. And unfortunately due to production you can't even hear the bass on this album, but I'm told it's spectacular.
Most importantly though, is the sound the band had managed to achieve on Kezia. Tracks like "Turn Soonest To The Sea" or "Blindfolds Aside" have such a thrashing and shredding, yet passionate and epic connotation that it gives many parts an anthem-like quality. The lyrical content of Kezia is quite possibly the most interesting part of the record, and an important one of many reasons that this group has earned my respect. The story of Kezia unfolds throughout the record through the changing perspectives of three characters, Kezia herself, a priest who witnesses the her execution, and the prison guard who must execute her. Maybe I'm just a huge fan of this kind of stuff, but that's really cool man...
Here's the video for Blindfolds Aside, one of the singles from Kezia
Blindfolds Aside - Protest the Hero
In 2008, PTH once again raised the bar for the world of metal music.
With the release of their second full-length, studio album Fortress, the raw talent that had shown signs of promise in Kezia had been forged and perfected into a vicious, shredding record. The guitar work got even more technical, drifting away from the genre of metal and entering the realm of neo-classical. Arpeggios and time signature changes can be found on almost every track. The band that had pushed their ability to the limit has made a world of progress. And does it ever show on Fortress, it is refined, the guitar sound has been sharpened, the drums made more intricate, and the vocals are a rhapsody of rage and passion. Walker explored a number of new vocal tonalities on this record that he hadn't previously used. The result is spectacular, and chilling.
Here's Sequioa Throne, one of the single's from Fortress
Note the intro riff.
Sequoia Throne - Protest The Hero
I know... crazy.
It was wide open for PTH, we're talking international fame here. At this point in their lives, these guys still have their entire careers ahead of them, and I can't wait to see where they all end up.
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