Protest the Hero - Fortress
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Free Music Notes for Fortress
Free Music Review: This album singlehandedly made me a metalhead
Hit: 5 Stars
Maybe I fell in love with this album when "like suicide, like suicide" in "Palms Read" is wailed over an instrumental ensemble that communicates any emotions or message that Protest the Hero choose to lay over it with vocals, but in this example perfectly enfuses the listener with angst.
Or maybe it was when I heard "Wretch" in its entirety for the first time and got lost in its intricate web of riffs, rhythms, and guitar effects that change up and mix themselves around like aces in a deck of cards, but are somehow always found in the chaos and pulled out without error or hesitation in exactly the right order in the manner of a street magician.
Maybe it was when the piano solo at the end of "Spoils" came on and I realized that this band could pull off multiple genres while retaining their emotionally charged touch that gives every song on Fortress its incredible quality.
Maybe it was when I realized that every time I listened to this album it always imbued me with a hopeful, optimistic mood despite its moody, often tense and sometimes violent lyrics.
Maybe it was when I realized that when I listened to certain particularly evocative passages of songs, my thoughts turn to someone I hold particularly close in my heart. My feelings are perfectly matched by the angst-filled lyrics due to a certain ambiguity and reticence I feel in the relationship I have with this person. But its hard to not to think my anxious mood is merely love when Rody Walker belts out "she is the dusk, she is the dawn, she is the moon, she is the stars" amidst a soaring background, followed up by a otherwordly solo and then a dizzying barrage of guitar that makes what little of my brain that's still thinking sensibly completely melt. And then, as if to pull me back to Earth, rebuking me for dreaming while everything is getting away from me, he screams "SHE IS HERE, SHE IS GONE!". Against some fading guitar tones, he repeats, as if only to me, in a whisper: she is gone.
Yeah, I'm about 12 listens in, and Fortress blows away anything else I have heard in 2008, any other metal album I have ever heard (except maybe Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age), and as each song flies by me again, it climbs up my top 20 album alltime ranking spot by spot.
If you have not heard this album, hear it, as soon as possible. You will probably not be blown away on first listen - there is simply too much to take in, as some songs have 15-20 separate riffs and musical themes in their 3-5 minutes. Don't be turned off by the occasional death-metalish growled vocal or shrieked high note. Don't be intimidated by Dragonforce-esque soloes (one of their guitarists actually guests on one track and rips off two amazing soloes) that are mind-numbingly fast yet retain their musical qualities and tonal value on listen after listen, gaining luster and coherence with each successive play.
And, because this is at its heart a metal album, even if it strays frequently from "metal" with its forays into subtle horn and string sections as well as piano soloes and dramatic pauses, do not be afraid to crank this thing's volume until the riffs bleed out into you and you meld with the tones and make them your own. Yeah, I get a little poetic and indulgent in language when talking about this album.
And a little damp in the underwear as well.
Rating: 9.5
Free Music Review: I`m done with these clowns
Hit: 1 Stars
Like to thank this site for bringing this artist to my attention, then again I would rather not thank this site for bringing this artist to my attention as it cost me bucks and I didnt enjoy this one little bit. This band are everything I dislike about modern prog of this sub genre they are a hybrid of everything I have heard before they have a few elements of pain of salvation only nowhere near as good they have technical chops of bands like spiral architect only much more forgettable (if that is possible) they lack melody the singer is a screamer who frankly wont shut up and sounds like he has mental issues or something ? No I waisted my time on these guys perhaps you could save your time as well if you are trusting of what I have to say. Thats all I can say on this issue as for me I`m done with these clowns.Free Music Review: Give it a little time.
Hit: 5 Stars
I gave the last album Kezia 4 stars because I thought PTH had a better album in them. Well boys and girls, this is it. :)
From start to finish this album delivers, offering breathtaking musicianship, thought provoking lyrics and solid song writing.
To those of you just buying the album I have this to say; Give it a chance and listen to it a few times before making any kind of judgement. Like all worth while music, "Fortress" is not instantly accessable. I grew up listening to bands as diverse as the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Slayer, Metallica, Athiest, etc. I can see how bands these days tend to be infinitely more formulaic in general, but PTH have taken a different path. With layer upon layer of nuance and mood, "Fortress" is an album you'll have on your MP3 player for a good while.
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Hit: 2 Stars
their popularity seems to rest on the tired premise that erratic stops and starts make music intelligent. how many bands do you need to hear use the same gimmick before it stops being impressive? the relatively unoriginal and monotonous lead guitar theatrics, more often meandering scale runs than considered melodies, are backed by typical rudimentary metalcore riffs. there's rarely any intricate cohesion between instruments or compositional substance displayed. Free Music Review: The masterpiece of our time.
Hit: 5 Stars
So this is my first review ever, and im glad to say it's Protest the Hero's "Fortress". Their hasn't been a cd in quite some time that has both lefted me in awe from start to finash, and has touched all of my favorite influences in music at the same time.
Let me first state how amazing this band truely is. With all members in there young 20's, its simply a miracle that they could create this overwelming cd. PTH have a wide range of influences and sounds ranging from the Hardcore scene, to punk, and even blues. All of the members and extremely gifted at there instruments. The two guitars shred like no other, and harmonize there sweeping and heavy riffage better than any band i have ever heard. In addition, I dont know how the bass stays up with the guitars and even has sweeping leads as well. (The Dissentience) The drums have really picked up since there last deubut on Vagrant Records. And to top it off the vocals are what makes the album a masterpiece. Its refreshing to hear a metal band without constant screaming. His vioce reminds me of a "hardcore" version of The Mars Volta. And when the screams come, you know its a heavy part in the song that they are emphasizing. If you enjoyed "Kezia", then you will love this album as much as i do. This technical, catchy, and epic band will go down in the record books if they continue to produce solid albums like this one.
1. Bloodmeat (9/10) The first single on the ablum, sets the attitude for rest of the cd. The drums really stand out on this record. There are some really epic parts in this song where the singer really shows off his vioce. At the very end, they close off with brutal breakdown, that will make you want to get up and start moshing. Overall, its one of my favorite tracks on the album
2. The Dissentience (9/10) The songs opens up with a grungy rift rift that leads to some amazing technical drumwork. Following with a heavy breakdown with deep screaming and high screaming over eachother. At 2:30 in the ablum they have an amazing time change with a catchy drum beat and a wicked bass lead. Another very good song.
3. Bone Marrow (10/10) This is my favorite song on the album. The song contains the heaviest breakdowns, most catchy chorus and sections, and a piano conclusion to die for. You must hear this song, if you already havent!
4. Sequoia Throne (8.5/10) Sequpia Throne contains the most sweeping in the whole album. At first i really enjoyed this song. It's very technical and full of arpeggios and constant sweeps.
5. Limb for Limb (8/10) This song never really grew on me, but i imagine it well in the future. It's a faster song, and contains a really cool keyboard solo. PTH have it all!
6. Palms Read (9/10) Another great song. The intro is amazing. IT starts out with a heavy opening, and opens into an epic sweep, then into a heavy and really technical verse. PTH always surprise you...i mean theyll just stop and have an amazing bass line, as heard in this song...and then just continue playing. And then at the end, as the song fades away, they just start playing again and have an ear shattering instrumenal.
7. Spoils (9.5/10) Another one of favorites...This song has some of the most catchy sweeps i have ever heard. (Killing The Human Abstract) They even have some cradle of filth like lryics in the middle of the song. The song closes with another grreat piano intro. They continue to amaze me with their musicical talent.
8. Wretch (8.5/10) A very different song. ITs still the same PTH, but they just have some of the wierdest guitar riffs, and sounds. But im not complaining!
9. Goddess Bound (8.5/10) Not much to say about this song. ITs good, just like the others...its fast and techical.
10. Goddess Gagged. (9/10) Another good song. Pretty simulur to all of their other songs... I kind of wish they closed the album differently. The song just ends like a normal song. They should of threw something in their finalizing the great album
Overall, i cant say enough to express my thoughts about this band. They are so creative and original, and have really opened up my mind about music. But my fingers are tired up typing...I hope this review was beneficial to you, and hopefully youll get pick this album up!
-Samm