There’s nothing like a new release from a progressive metal band to get fans beating the shit out of each other on social media. Protest The Hero‘s new full-length Volition (Spinefarm) might not have divided them like Karnivool fans were this year, but all the expected debates can be found over what direction they should have gone in. While the songs are still heavy and technical, they are not as spasmodic and mathy as those of their 2008 release Fortress, nor is their guitar quite as frenetic,with the shredding displaying a little less of that twiddly sound that has taken root in UK post-rock bands. But really you’re going to be a pretty strong lover of the form to see a huge difference in style from anything else they’ve done or with music of the progressive mathcore bands like Sikth and a fair bit of The Safety Fire and Animals As Leaders, although of course the vocals styles differ between these bands.Continue reading →