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Protest the Hero: Fortress Review

29 February 2008, Kevin @ 3:05 pm

Protest the Hero is a fairly popular Canadian hardcore/progressive/metalcore/mathcore metal band from Whitby, Ontario. ‘Fortress’ is their second album and the first album I’ve heard from them. The first time I listened to the album, I didn’t like it. That is probably because I don’t listen to that kind of metal.

I don’t like Protest’s vocals. It consists of a lot of screaming and growling accompanied by whiny unmelodic singing. The growling I don’t mind as much but it’s the bad singing that really gets me. They do have a fair bit of good guitar shredding though. “Sequoia Throne” and “Palms Read” both started off pretty good and then quickly fell flat, kind of like a soufflé made by an amateur chef that deflates before it gets to your table. “Spoils” and “Bone Marrow” both end in instrumental, which are really the only parts of this album I liked.

I’ve now listened to this album three times. I still don’t like it. Nothing really stands out for me and every song sounds alike. I should really listen to their first album before deciding if this is just a bad album or a bad band. There are quite a few Protest fans out there. Obviously we all have different tastes and I guess I just appreciate good metal music. I’m afraid this is an album I’m gonna have to protest (HIYO!).

Bloodmeat

Sequoia Throne

Spoils

Buy this album at:
Amazon.ca
CD Universe
InSound

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Filed under: Protest The Hero

15 Comments

1. Ste — March 6, 2008 @ 11:07 am
   
   

   its a great album in my opinion and the tracks have very diverse sounds.

   as for the first album and ep, more punky than this release.

   each to their own tho.




2. Kevin — March 6, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
   
   

   koolski! i’ll check em out




3. Manuel — March 7, 2008 @ 9:46 am
   
   

   I disagree. It’s really a great metal CD. I’ve had it on heavy rotation at the house, Ipod, vehicle and at work. I actually have it on right now. I’m a metal guy and I think it is amazingly good. Musically, melodically and lyrically. It’s a mature and ambitious effort (particularly taking the age of the guys into account).




4. todd mcclure — April 12, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
   
   

   From now on, if you give an album a bad review, I’m going to purchase it asap.I was not a fan of the band until I heard Bloodmeat. I had to hear it more than a few times. This is not music most people are going to hear the first time and instantly fall in love. But if you’re paying attention, you would have to be impressed with they way they transition from one style to another and bring it all together. The problem for the casual listener is that they never come back to a catchy hook or melody. Something I love now that I have a feel for the record. So just when a noob finds the groove it moves in another direction. But that’s a fresh change from bands that drive their hooks into the ground like they came from the P. Diddy school of writing. This is not an album for the simple minded.The guitar work is amazing. Rody’s voice shows amazing range and the ability to throw out a nasty, gutteral groan.I could continue all day…but I won’t bore you anymore. Bottom line: you’re review is horrible. To question their talent makes you sound like an idiot. I can understand it not being your type of music. But anyone with an open mind and any feel for music would know “Fortress” is special, no matter what genre we try to cram it into. And don’t bother listening to Kezia. You’ll hate it.




5. Allan — April 13, 2008 @ 4:12 am
   
   

   Well you ripped Kevin a new asshole and while I agree that it’s a bad review (I told him myself) it’s more of a product of him not putting in any effort to explain himself due to disliking the album.

   There are more then a handful of people disliking this record and you can’t expect a “casual listener” (e.g. everyone is a casual listener of something) to like something especially if they don’t like it right away.

   He pointed out things he liked and just hated the singing more often then not. What’s wrong with that statement? If it’s not true then explain but you didn’t!

   Don’t act like a obnoxious snobby music guy just because you may be part of a radio station. I don’t give a shit who you are but calling people noobs and bringing the topic of “catchy hooks” when the topic wasn’t brought up and we aren’t a fucking mainstream site so don’t bring up P. Diddy. Ass.

   Closed minded fag. Someone with an open mind will understand that sometimes even GREAT music is not loved by everyone. It’s a matter of fact but don’t try to think you’re better then Kevin just because he doesn’t love the band you jack off to.




6. Kevin — April 14, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
   
   

   LOL nice comment Todd. You’re absolutely right. This was a half-assed review from me. A half-assed review for what I think was a half-assed album.

   You said so yourself that you listened to this album many times before you appreciated these guys for their true talent. Not everyone’s got a radio station job that allows them to listen to music all day. Maybe I did underestimated these guys and should have paid more attention to their creative masterpiece. But this is a blog. Everything that is posted is just our opinion. Not facts. The music is posted. People can listen and judge for themselves.

   PS. I’m glad that you are now dedicated to buying all the albums that I’m going to bash because at least now they’ll have someone appreciating their garbage.

   Oh and don’t call me close-minded. You are the bigot here.




7. Tyler — June 3, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
   
   

   “Oh and don’t call me close-minded. You are the bigot here.”

   I quote:

   “…and I guess I just appreciate good metal music.”

   I’m sorry, what? I feel bad that you have a first page ranking on Google for this shit, a lot more readers than you deserve.




8. Allan — June 4, 2008 @ 3:06 am
   
   

   Hey, not my fault people don’t know how to get their site as the first ranking on Google. My l337 skills but we obviously deserved what we got, you go make a blog that is worthy why don’t you?

   Otherwise go fuck yourself. The marketing is my work, the writing is Kevin. His review I called bad to his face but don’t be a douchebag nonetheless.




9. Kevin — June 4, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
   
   

   One of the reasons why we have a high ranking is because of people like you. Keep the comments coming




10. Cody — June 12, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
    
    

    Your review is horrible. This is album is amazing. Not liking the singing is understandable, you just have to get used to it. But he can scream well, growl, and personally a fan of At The Drive In and Mars Volta, I love his vocals. They are quite similar.

    So, Instead of bashing the music, maybe take a little time to appreciate the musicianship and hardwork put into this album.




11. Kevin — June 12, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
    
    

    I never said it was easy to come up with an album. These guys prolly busted their balls doing it. But to people who don’t listen to this kind of music, it sounds like absolute garbage. (and of course, most everyone reading this is a fan of PTH or else they wouldn’t be here)

    and yes, he CAN scream well and growl well but those things don’t matter when they’re not mixed together correctly. Its like trying to make a cake with the freshest, most expensive ingredients and then overcooking it in the oven.

    ps. These conversations arent going anywhere because everyone is saying the same thing: “Your review is crap” and “Protest the hero is the best band out there”. Its a complete waste of my time trying to defend my opinion because I’ll be just repeating myself. So I’m going to stop replying to similar comments but keep the comments coming because it’s doing the site some good

    Also, if you go write a review about an album which you turn out to hate, I can just copy and paste all the comments up there onto your post because they can pretty much apply to ANY artist(s). These comments are just different people’s OPINIONS.




12. Anonymous — October 11, 2008 @ 12:04 am
    
    

    Wow. as much as i’d like to criticize you for not liking this, i can’t.
    because i must respect your opinion.

    but you also should respect them at least as musicians.

    i’d like to see you write an entire album with 1/8 of the talent they have.




13. Anonymous — October 25, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
    
    

    This is a terrible review. You must not be a musician




14. Allan — October 25, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
    
    

    Duh. A lot of reviewers aren’t. Don’t act like musicians are put on a pedestal. Some reviewers have good stuff out there. Kevin doesn’t even write for us anymore.




15. Anonymous — December 31, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
    
    

    This and is so techicnically talented.

    People with classical training will most definitely appreciate this.

    As for the others: listen to the cd about 3 times, it’ll grow on you.

    Pay attention to the breakdowns, the riffs and you won’t be sorry!

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