Protest The Hero... Buy The Album... Bang Your Head
Protest The Hero are possibly the coolest band I've heard since Coheed and Cambria. In fact, take the epic dorkery and impassioned melodies of Coheed and Cambria, play it about twice as fast, add screams, death growls, and a complete disregard for reasonable song structures, and you've pretty much described these guys. I heard their recent (2007) album "Fortress" on Rhapsody and immediately ran out the next day to FYE to purchase the disc. It's been on constant rotation ever since.
One reviewer commented that instead of writing a song, Protest The Hero throws 30 riffs at a wall and hopes they stick. This actually isn't too far from the truth: The songs generally lack a clear structure, and change tempo roughly every 8 seconds. Some will complain that they can't sing along to a song without listening to it 3 times, but I see it the other way: After listening to the entire album dozens of times I still have trouble predicting what will come next. What's more important is that the album holds together really well, and while there's no "plot" exactly, there's a pretty complex lyrical thread running through all of the songs. The best part is that if you happen to find a riff you don't like, a better one will come along in the next 10 seconds.
Furthermore, the band is absolutely tip-top, and unlike a lot of "experimental" or "progressive" bands, they clearly love melody, and never just throw in dissonance for no good reason. Every scream in its place. To whet your appetite for the album, I've embedded the vid for the opening track. It even kind of has a chorus, so it'll break you in easy. If you like it, run out right now and buy "Fortress". And be grateful you die by Irish steel.
One reviewer commented that instead of writing a song, Protest The Hero throws 30 riffs at a wall and hopes they stick. This actually isn't too far from the truth: The songs generally lack a clear structure, and change tempo roughly every 8 seconds. Some will complain that they can't sing along to a song without listening to it 3 times, but I see it the other way: After listening to the entire album dozens of times I still have trouble predicting what will come next. What's more important is that the album holds together really well, and while there's no "plot" exactly, there's a pretty complex lyrical thread running through all of the songs. The best part is that if you happen to find a riff you don't like, a better one will come along in the next 10 seconds.
Furthermore, the band is absolutely tip-top, and unlike a lot of "experimental" or "progressive" bands, they clearly love melody, and never just throw in dissonance for no good reason. Every scream in its place. To whet your appetite for the album, I've embedded the vid for the opening track. It even kind of has a chorus, so it'll break you in easy. If you like it, run out right now and buy "Fortress". And be grateful you die by Irish steel.
Click to view