Review: Protest the Hero - Fortress

Artist: Protest the Hero
Album: Fortress
Label: Vagrant Records
Released: 1/29/2008



BSTscore: 90

Fortress is the 2^nd full length on Vagrant for Canada’s Protest the Hero. While the band’s first release, Kezia, was more of a concept album, this album is a little more open to interpretation.

Hands down, this is one of the most talented bands I’ve heard in a long time. The band’s ability with odd time signatures and tempos is matched by few. Each member is very skilled and the songs showcase this nicely. Their ability to play metal one minute and something completely different the next is a testament to their musical ability.

Bassist/lyricist Arif Mirabdolbaghi is one of the more unique lyricists to say the least. The band is self-professed readers and it shows heavily in their lyrics. Topics are a bit strange at times, with a focus on medieval folklore on Fortress. I’m impressed by the complexity, but I know that other listeners may find the lyrics hard to digest.

Lead vocalist Rody Walker has a diverse range and clear delivery that is complimented nicely by the backing vocals of guitarist Tim Millar, Luke Hoskin, and bassist Mirabdolbaghi. At times all four use gang vocals to give the songs a largely than life feel, while at others, their expanded range contrast clean vocals with heavy screaming.

At times the songs can seem erratic, with blistering solos or heavy breakdowns, but overall, they fit together nicely. Normally I prefer melody more than chaotic nature of some of the songs, but Protest the Hero pulls it off well. While it may be hard to digest for some, I think that the intricacy of the songs will win over most listeners.

This band is very refreshing for the metal/hardcore scene. While Fortress doesn’t stray too far from where Kezia left off, this is a very unique and diverse album. There are no cookie-cutter song structures or catchy sing-alongs on this album. This band stands way out from the crowd.

The only negative to the band’s sound is that it’s hard to listen to over and over again. This is definitely in my rotation, but not at the top. The best part is that I find something new with every listen. The music is very deep and complex.

I’ve seen these guys live a couple times now and I’ve seen that you either love this band or hate them. I’m guessing that with Vagrant behind them and playing this year’s Warped Tour, they should win over a lot more people. Their talent is undeniable.

Musicianship: 90
Vocals: 85
Creativity: 95
Impact: 90

Favorite Song: "Spoils"

Listen to Protest the Hero

Review: Underminded - Eleven Eleven

Artist: Underminded
Album: Eleven Eleven
Label: Uprising Records
Released: 8/7/2007



BSTscore: 80

Three years have passed since the release of the band’s Hail Unamerican! Since it was one of the more refreshing releases I had heard in quite some time, I anxiously awaited the release of the San Diego based band’s follow-up release.

The band is more than talented enough to create good music, but they won’t overwhelm anyone with elaborate solos or anything. They know their limitations and don’t push past them.

One of the biggest reasons I liked their first album is lead singer Nick Martin’s straight forward lyrics. He does a great job at conveying a positive message through angry, and at times, negative lyrics. It’s a great contrast, which I really enjoy. It may not be for everyone, but Nick does not back away from topics such as war, religion, and prostitution. There is room to improve (it’s not poetic), but it is mature and powerful.

Nick’s screaming has one of the more distinguishable voices in hardcore (I easily picked up his guest spot on the Chiodos album). The only negative aspect is that the band uses a lot of gang vocals for choruses. At times, it’s a great approach, while at others it seems a bit out of place.

The songs on Eleven Eleven are more cohesive than their prior releases. “The Chancellor”, “Lords and Wolves”, and “The Great American Sob Story” are stand out songs that have strong melody and yet maintain fast and aggressive tempos. Breakdowns are there, but they are no longer included just to have a breakdown. The songs flow very well.

The unfortunate thing for Underminded is that while Hail Unamerican! stood out from the pack, the pack became much larger and more congested in the three years up to this release. While I think that this is still better than most of the releases that have come out lately, it didn’t quite do enough to distance the band from others in their genre. I’m glad they didn’t re-invent the wheel and they certainly have matured, but there is still room for improvement.

This easily found my rotation. It’s an intelligent release with great lyrics and strong flow. As much as I really like this band, they don’t seem to generate the buzz that they deserve. Having seen them numerous times live, they have an amazing set and with time I hope they get their due.

Musicianship: 75
Vocals: 90
Creativity: 75
Impact: 80

Favorite Song: "The Great American Sob Story"

Listen to Underminded

Review Format

For those of you who missed the update on the old version of the site, we have changed our review format. Rather than making you go back to the old site to figure out how albums are rated, I copied the post below. In addition to the post below, we will be breaking down reviews alphabetically into 4 groups (A-F, G-L, M-R, and S-Z) so that you can find your favorite bands with ease. Over time, we may expand this method, but for now, it will suffice.

In the past there has been little explanation of what our reviews are based upon and our scale was based on the traditional 90% or higher - A, 80-89% - B, 70-79% - C, 60-69% - D, 59% or less - F. Any reviews that have a % out 100% are past reviews using the old format.

The new format, described below, will give more explanation of how albums are critiqued and expose the strengths and weaknesses of each band. The new system will result in much lower scores in general, but will allow the truly special albums to set themselves apart from the average release.

As a bit of a twist, we have included a category in which we predict the band’s future. In the past 5 years we have spotlighted some bands that have had huge success and others that have flamed out. This is where you will get our personal opinion of each band’s future.

7 categories totaling 100 points:

• Musicianship - 15 points
• Lyrics - 15 points
• Vocals - 15 points
• Songwriting/Flow - 15 points
• Impact/Creativity - 15 points
• “Now” Factor - 15 points
• Future/Prediction - 10 points

Definitions and scale explanation:

• Musicianship – the band’s talent/technical ability.
  
• 15 – All members are experienced musicians and talent is unmatched.
• 12.5 – Members have above average talent.
• 10 – Members have average talent.
• 7.5 – Most members have average talent.
• 5 – Below average talent.
• 2.5 – Hobby? Garage Band?


• Lyrics – songwriter’s ability to convey the band’s message/express feelings.
  
• 15 – Unique, meaningful, and unmatched.
• 12.5 – Strong, meaningful.
• 10 – Mainstream, somewhat impersonal.
• 7.5 – Generic.
• 5 – Pointless, erratic.
• 2.5 – Jokes?


• Vocals – ability to deliver lyrics with clarity, range, and key
  
• 15 – Unique, flawless, crisp, and clear.
• 12.5 – Strong, powerful.
• 10 – Good all-around.
• 7.5 – Adequate, some flaws.
• 5 – Off-key or muffled.
• 2.5 – Incomprehensible


• Songwriting/Flow – the melody of the songs. Does everything fit together?
  
• 15 – Songs are perfect. Could not be composed better.
• 12.5 – Arrangements are strong and tight.
• 10 – Most of the album consistent.
• 7.5 – Middle of road. Some songs are good, some are bad.
• 5 – Songs could use work.
• 2.5 – Album should be re-written.


• Impact/Creativity – Where is this album compared to everything else and past releases?
  
• 15 – Genre defining, groundbreaking.
• 12.5 – Unique and strong.
• 10 – Stands out from the pack, but nothing extraordinary.
• 7.5 – Similar to other bands.
• 5 – Carbon copy. Same “equation.”
• 2.5 – Regression.


• “Now” Factor – How will this affect your music collection?
  
• 15 – Top of the list. Instant classic.
• 12.5 – Regular rotation.
• 10 – Great for road trips.
• 7.5 – It’s easy to find.
• 5 – Once in a while.
• 2.5 – Put in on the shelf and forget about it.


• Future/Prediction – Where is this band heading?
  
• 10 – Huge success. Arena tour? TRL?
• 8 – Expanding fan base. Radio play.
• 6 – Headlining tour.
• 4 – Generating buzz.
• 2 – Will continue to fly under the radar.
• 1 – Break-up imminent.

Spotlight - March 5, 2008

Following Eddy's lead, here's some stuff I've been listening to lately. New, old, and everywhere in between.

A new window will open when you click on a song. Look for the title on the playlist, and come back here.

It's purely coincidence that 4 out of 6 start with "D". Funny how things work out like that...

Rob's Spotlight for March 5, 2008:

• Dead Hearts—Fall
  • Melodic hardcore. Very similar to Hope Conspiracy. This whole album is excellent.
• Defiance, Ohio-The Condition
  • Hard to describe this one. Has some similarities to Rumbleseat or maybe Against Me! Acoustic, random instruments, a good change of pace. FYI, you can download every song this band has from their website.
• The Draft—Devil in the Shade
  • Actually, listen to all of the songs, not just one. 3/4's of Hot Water Music. Chris' vocals go down a little easier than Chuck's, which makes their sound a little more melodic than HWM. If HWM never put out another record (they recently released a B-sides in case you don't know), I'd still die happy if these guys are.
• Drop Dead, Gorgeous—It Sounded Like an Accident
  • Local band. All of the songs are a good listen. They aren't re-inventing the wheel or anything, but their songs have decent melody and don't overdue the singing or screaming.
• Lifetime—Airport Monday Morning
  • Who's Lifetime? Get out from under your rock, go buy everything this band has released and get back to me. The new stuff might not be as amazing as Hello Bastards or Jersey's Best Dancers, but it's still catchy and melodic.
• Memphis May Fire-Cowbell's Making a Comeback
  • Alright, it's Trustkill, it's cliche, but it's not that bad. Okay, maybe it is and it's certainly not groundbreaking, but I've heard a lot worse lately. Granted I can see these guys being the next Atreyu or Hawthorne Heights, it might be worth your listen. Too bad it sounds like it was recorded inside the closet, of a basement, next to a highway...

Keep rockin'.

Spotlight—March 2, 2008

Those of you may remember the spotlight mp3s on the old site. Well, this is the new version, entitled Spotlight. The concept's not much different this time around. It's just a little more fleshed out. We're still sharing our favorite music. And with our new format, we can spotlight mp3s, videos, and other media. We'll structure our Spotlight posts however we see fit.

So on with the show.

We have to go with links, since we can't embed the music in this situation. A new window will open when you click on a song. Look for the title on the playlist, and come back here. Play while you peruse.

Eddy Mo's Spotlight for March 2, 2008:

• Above this Fire—Everything at Once
  • Great driving hardcore. If only the singer wasn't so monotone. Still, definitely worth a listen.
• August Burns Red—Composure
  • Amazing technical metalcore. Impressive musicianship and unexpected nuances throughout.
• Damiera—M(US)IC
  • I love this kind of sound. Spine tingling guitars and catchy melodies. An apropos break from the heaviness.
• Mikoto—Tired of Me
  • Featuring ex-Taken frontman Ray Harkins, his latest project doesn't even come close. But hey, it's still good. Listen for the devastating breakdown at the end.
• Secondsmile—Aspen Fears
  • Still can't get over the fact these guys mellowed out. Their talent, however, is unquestionable.
• Shai Hulud—Bear the Brunt of Many Blades
  • New Shai Hulud. Well, sort of (this is a 2006 demo). Apparently, this song will be on the new album. Enough talk, it's Shai Hulud. Go listen.

Here's to good music.

Doing More with Less

Two weeks since my last post. I'm getting better. Hey, I'm a workaholic. That usually gets in the way.

I thought it would be cool to share the new Minus the Bear video with those of you who haven't seen it yet. It's for the song Knights off the Planet of Ice album. I'm sure the video itself cost a measly sum to make, yet it's engaging and cool. Basically, a mirror effect was placed on footage of the band jamming. The effect is similar to the one I can get in Photo Booth on my Macbook.

The song's not bad either. Take a look, and listen, for yourself.



Minus the Bear—Knights

A New Beginning?

Hey Everyone,

Things have been kind of hectic around here of late, but as you can see, we have completed the new format. Both Eddy and I are adjusting to the new format, but we believe that we have created a more streamlined approach to bringing you new content. Obviously our site has been dedicated to the music community for the past 6 years (Can you believe it's been 6 years!), but we've also touched on many other subjects as well. Our new format will allow for us to provide insight on everything from music, movies, politics, or anything else that might be on our mind.

Keep checking back for new content in the next couple of days.

Thanks!

The End of an Era

It's quite ironic that I'm writing about the downfall of one of my favorite bands during the renaissance of this site, but I thought this was an appropriate way to start a new era by talking about the end of another.

Hopesfall, one of my favorite bands of all time, recently broke up. To many of you, this is old news. But I just found out about this within the last few weeks, and I think it's worth taking a little time to reminisce about the band.

The first time I heard Hopesfall, I was still getting into the whole underground rock scene. I had never heard such an amazing combination of ferocious hardcore and gentle melody before, and I was hooked from the beginning. For a good year, I listened to the No Wings to Speak Of EP on a daily basis. I couldn't get enough of it, and I salivated for the band's upcoming full-length release that I had been hearing about. That release turned out to be The Satellite Years, an instant classic that combined the passionate sound from the EP with a suave space rock touch.

To me, the band could do no wrong. Hopesfall was at the top of its game. It didn't matter that the band was going through lineup changes. The sound was still there, and it was evolving into something truly special. When I got word of a new release, entitled A Types, I was awaiting a genre-redefining effort. This was sure to be an album that would obliterate my playlist and earn a permanent place in my everyday catalog.

In reality, A Types turned out to be a colossal disappointment, a blatant attempt to penetrate the mainstream. The hardcore. The organic song structures. The soul of the music. All gone. In their place, a tried-and-true amalgamation of tired melodies and hard rock inspired vocals. Hopesfall's last release, 2007's Magnetic North, attempted to bring the sound back to a more aggressive place. But it too was uninspired and simply, not Hopesfall.

In the end, Hopesfall wasn't Hopesfall. The band had gone through myriad member changes. The last lineup did not include one single member that was involved in No Wings to Speak Of. A pseudo-reunion was attempted last year, when Adam Morgan returned to the band. But the reunion was short-lived. Once 2008 hit, the band imploded.

While this may read like a tragic obituary, I do want to celebrate the achievements that the band accomplished. Hopesfall will always be remembered for the sound it created in its melodic hardcore heyday, which inspired a new generation of bands. The chorus effect-driven guitars will live on in mp3 players around the world and in the hearts of those who will never forget what truly made this band special.

I only have one thing to say to Hopesfall: thank you.



Hopesfall performing The End of an Era, one of my favorite songs ever and the song that defined No Wings to Speak Of.

The New blood.sweat.tears

Welcome everyone.

You've happened to stumble upon the brand spanking new BST. The BST I've been talking about in my last couple of posts at the previous site. The one that's been over a year in the making.

Yep, it's finally finished.

As you can see, the site has been completely revamped. Out of all the versions we've been through, this is definitely the most dramatically different. You may also be noticing the blog format. We believe it will streamline the content creation process on our end, while providing a more dynamic viewing experience on your end. The days of writing an article and meticulously having to format the HTML are gone. This will save us an extraordinary amount of time, which means Rob and I will finally be able to post on a regular basis.

However, all the conveniences of our old site are still here, along with new ones. All our content will be filtered into topics, which you can access on the right. Also, you'll be able to make comments after each post. Remember the old BST Community? Well, we now have the opportunity to resurrect that dialog. Instead of news feeds, we'll post our articles right here, so you can immediately see what's fresh. And if you want to check out our previous site, just click on the link, also to your right.

Be sure to come back on a regular basis, as the content will definitely be flowing more frequently. I know that on my end alone, I have a ton of stuff I want to talk about.

And a big THANK YOU goes out to my good friend Mike Hardy for drawing the amazing sketch featured in our banner, which is also brand spanking new.

Thanks for visiting.

Review: Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies

artist: killswitch engage album: as daylight dies label: roadrunner records released: 10/30/2007 by: rob tatum musicianship - 13/15 Not much need for improvement here. As solid as ever. lyrics - 12/15 Certainly not lacking heart or passion, but for every personal line, there is an equally generic line. vocals - 14/15 Howard continues to utilize one of the most unique voices in music. His voice is easily one of the clearest to understand whether screaming or singing. Backing screams are crisp and clear as well and are well layered. songwriting/flow - 14/15 KSE are masters of writing melodic, heavy music. There are occasional parts that will remind listeners of the band’s blistering early material and may scare off the timid ear. impact/creativity - 12/15 This album doesn’t reinvent the wheel and picks up where The End of Heartache left off musically. The moment you hear it, you know it’s KSE. Very solid from top to bottom. “now” factor - 13/15 Something about KSE’s songwriting has this undeniable pop “hook” even with the screaming and occasional blast beats. It’s hard to argue against listening to them and even harder to turn it off once it’s playing. future/prediction - 9/10 Although KSE hasn’t strayed from their sound, this album will continue to get radio play and increase their popularity. Their ability to write catchy melodies will inevitably bring them further into the mainstream. favorite song: the arms of sorrow overall: 87/100 listen to killswitch engage