Volition

Author: Primož Novak

Artist: Protest the Hero
Label: Spinefarm Records
Release: 2013
Runtime: 54:07
Rating: 4.3/5

Canadian outfit Protest The Hero have been shaking things up since their first album Kezia, and even more so since Fortress, which still gives plenty of people a headache when it comes to pinning it down to any sensible genre. Labels have been flying around: the band plays something progressive for sure, mixed with metalcore, hardcore, punk rock and even power metal.

Before the band recorded Volition, they announced they had parted ways with their label, and funded the album through an Indiegogo campaign that pulled in over $200,000, which was more than enough to record an album (and then some). On top of that, the band split with drummer Moe Carlson, who had previously proven himself a technically flawless drummer, so they had to find an experienced hand for the recording. Behind the kit sat Chris Adler (Lamb of God), these days one of the most respected drummers in the metal scene, even though the music of Protest the Hero is wildly different from Lamb of God.

With the opening track Clarity, the band shows they’re back on the right track, since the previous album Scurrilous didn’t really stick because of too few standout songs. Over 54 minutes, the listener gets put through some seriously exhausting music. Protest The Hero stick to complexity, chaos, unbelievable rhythms, and standout lead guitar and vocals.

On Scurrilous it seemed like PTH were mellowing out, but Volition is a different story. The band is more aggressive, with more screaming and growling vocals than we heard on Fortress. That said, there isn’t that much vocal aggression overall; the spotlight is still on Rody Walker’s distinctive falsetto vocals, which many find so annoying they’d rather hear the album with no vocals at all. Annoying or not, you have to give Walker credit for his imagination when it comes to crafting vocal lines. The vocal dynamics are also underlined in some songs by the female vocals of Jadea Kelly, who has worked with the band since the debut. But vocals aren’t the only thing that makes PTH special. The album is packed with wild, often jittery riffs that lean heavily on melody and the occasional bit of atonality. No wonder many have accused them of drawing inspiration from Nintendo, thanks to the overuse of tapping, which at times really bombards you.  

The rhythm section is another standout. The bassist serves up some interesting lines, but sadly the final mix pushed him too far into the background. Chris Adler’s drumming, on the other hand, is without a doubt a highlight. Let’s be honest, Adler proved himself an inventive and precise drummer in Lamb of God. But on Volition he also shows he’s an excellent connoisseur of all kinds of rhythms. Even though some of his trademark unique beats are missing, Volition is a real treat for any drummer.

On Volition the band stayed true to their authentic songwriting, which can seem predictable at first, but it quickly turns out that a single song holds a lot of information and unpredictability. That’s where the blending of different genres comes in. You could start with the metalcore elements, which also show up in the unusual breakdowns, while on the other hand there are punk-rock elements, most obviously in the song Mist.

With the money they raised, the band has clearly gained in production too, which sounds massive, and the sound itself is nicely polished. There are also quite a few guests on the album, among them Ron Jarzombek (WatchTower, Blotted Science), who contributes a guitar solo. For all its strengths, Volition has a weakness or two: some songs with standout riffs overshadow the rest a bit, which keeps it from being the most perfect whole. Some songs are also too long, something the band hadn’t done before.

In the end, all you can do is confirm that Volition is yet another outstanding achievement from the Canadian madmen. It’s not a better record than Fortress, but it’s more than solid proof that Protest The Hero still have plenty left to say.

Lineup

Rody Walker – vocals
Tim Millar – guitar, piano
Luke Hoskin – guitar, acoustic guitar
Arif Mirabdolbaghi – bass guitar
Chris Adler – drums

Production

Cameron McLellan

Track List