Protest The Hero are a group that have garnered
much wide-spread attention thanks to their intense guitar riffs, pounding
drums, bouncing bass lines and of course, vocalist Rody Walker’s incredible diversity.
Kezia was a brilliant debut, whilst
sophomore effort Fortress was (and
still is) a mind-blowing experience.
But for those of you who felt that their last
outing, Scurrilous, didn't quite live
up to the highs that they had previously set themselves, you need not worry. Volition is every bit as brilliant as a
PTH record should be, and then some.
For the most part, Volition comes across as combining the finer moments from PTH’s
back-catalogue, fusing together riffs, melodies and grooves together in a way
that the band had previously attempted, but never quite managed. Even with the
departure of drummer and founding member Moe Carlson and the band resorting to
crowd-funding to get the album of the ground, Volition is without a doubt the keystone in PTH’s career to date.
The album opens with ‘Clarity’, its infectious
beats and grooving guitars managing to effortlessly lure you in for the next fifty-four
minutes. ‘Drumhead Trial’ and ‘Tilting Against Windmills’ follow up, but it’s
not until ‘Without Prejudice’, with its thundering bass line and melodic chorus
that you really get a sense that PTH are pulling out all the stops with their recent
release.
And sure enough, the rest of the record quickly follows suit. ‘Yellow Teeth’ is a powerhouse of a
track that leads into the second half of Volition
with a juggernaut of momentum that is just impossible to stop.
Of course though, just when you think PTH do not
feel the need to give themselves any breathing space, the final moments of ‘Plato’s
Tripartite’ comes as a pleasant surprise. Its soothing acoustics and intertwining
vocals from front-man Rody and guest vocalist Jadea Kelly creates a sound that
is unlike anything PTH have done to date.
One listen to tracks ‘Mist’ and ‘Skies’ is enough
to tell the listener that PTH are not a band who are afraid of venturing
outside of their comfort zone. But while PTH might be stepping out into the
direction of a sound that might alienate any long-time fan, they instantaneously
make it theirs to show off.
Finale ‘Skies’ is arguably the highlight of Volition and one of the best tracks the
band have written to date. Along with ‘Tilting Against Windmills’ and ‘A Life
Embossed’ it sees the return of Rody’s screamed vocals. For those of you missed
them on Scurrilous, rejoice!
As a whole, Volition
is the best PTH record to date, never once faltering or ever falling flat. It
gives fans of old a little bit of something that they had managed to
encapsulate on previous releases whilst still leaving itself open for new fans
to jump aboard. For anybody who is a fan of well-written riffs and beats, give Volition a listen. It’s easily one of
the finest records to be released in recent memory.
4/5
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