I assume everyone has heard the story behind this album by now but it is still worth mentioning because (A) I am a fan of the process (having funded the likes of Earthtone9 & ArnoCorps myself) and (B) it is a genuinely heart-warming story and a positive sign for the future.
So after finishing their record label duties after 3 albums Protest The Hero attempt to go DIY by turning to one of many crowd funding programmes (in this case: indiegogo) and setting a goal of $125000, their fan base promptly exceeds all expectations by hitting the target inside 48 hours and eventually nearly tripling it by the deadline!
The band themselves have been on my radar since I encountered them on tour in 2012 with Long Distance Calling (A very odd but good bill that also included Blood Command & Uneven Structure) where they certainly entertained, but I will freely admit to not being the biggest fan of the "djent" or "progressive metal" genres with the notable exception of Between The Buried And Me.
However Protest The Hero have always been different enough from most bands of the aforementioned genres for myself to keep tabs on them and I anticipated this would be the album that finally converted me to the cause. The stunning way 'Clarity’ and ‘Drumhead Trial’ come out firing on all cylinders certainly wets the appetite as although still containing their signature style of calculated fret board frenzy and clean anthemic vocals, the over exuberance of earlier releases is traded for an energy and vigour more akin to classic heavy/thrash metal.
However personally this doesn’t stand up to repeated listens as once the ‘shock n awe’ of their playing style has worn off little niggles raise their head, not to totally ruin the experience but enough to downgrade Volition form outstanding to just rather good.
Or to paraphrase Sven Goran Eriksson “First half superb, second half not so much”
It starts when I noticed just how forgettable the drumming is, especially when compared against how on form the rest of the band are and that the drummer in question is Chris Adler (of Lamb Of God fame).
Secondly when they town down the fret board heroics on later tracks such as ‘Mist’ & ‘Underbite’ it all begins to sound far too commercial rock in the vein of My Chemical Romance.
Existing fans will find plenty to enjoy and while there is plenty to recommend in their endeavour, newcomers may find it hard to be convinced.
