Protest the Hero

Take a firm base of post-hardcore, sprinkle on a healthy dose of Arsis-esque melodic technicality and spoon in some power metal pomp and bombast: you now have yourself the basic dough with which Ontario’s finest, Protest the Hero, are baked from, with more ingredients added to flavour the mixture (is anyone else hungry?). Formed at the tender age of fourteen in 1999, PtH are dismissed out of hand by some for their “core” influences (being signed to Vagrant Records doesn’t help much either), when in reality they hold surprising depth, with a wealth of rich lyrical content and unexpectedly mature craftsmanship for so young a band: balancing an instant punch, with hooks so big as to make Peter Pan shit himself against a complexity that invites multiple listens, all the while wearing their influences like cuff links (Coheed and Cambria and Between the Buried and Me to name but two) yet still remaining an entity all their own. The partnership between Rody Walker’s fabulous vocals and Luke Hoskin’s amazing guitar harmonies is a rather brilliant combination if I do say so myself. Musicality is something you don’t often find in modern metal, making Protest the Hero a simple joy for the ears. Ignore them for the scene they populate and miss out on something special: hang up your biases and find something wonderful.

Recommended Works
Kezia (LP): created while the band tried to balance a hectic high school schedule, the record nonetheless sounds polished: a fantastic album, especially for a debut, though more “core” heavy than later works, somewhat showing their age.

Fortress (LP): their second full length and a mighty display of fine song writing, with catchy vocal lines and astounding melodies: a pleasure to behold.

Band Members
Rody Walker – Lead Vocals
Luke Hoskin - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tim Millar – Rhythm guitar, Backing Vocals, Piano
Arif Mirabdolbaghi – Bass guitar, Backing Vocals
Moe Carlson – Drums

Essential Tracks
Bone Marrow
Wretch
Blindfolds Aside
Limb from Limb
Turn Soonest to the Sea


Links
Offical Site
Wikipedia
Last.fm