Protest The Hero - Club Academy, Manchester - 7th March 2012 (Live Review)
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Written by Ben Bland
Out of all the metal bills that will take to UK stages this year, this one might just be the strangest. The return of Protest the Hero to these shores on a proper headline tour has been anticipated for some time but that they should turn up with support from this bunch was rather more unexpected. Uneven Structure are the least surprising choice with their atmospheric djent metal. Blood Command and Long Distance Calling, meanwhile, are bringing the punk and the post-rock to Manchester to join the prog metal oddities that are this evening’s headliners.
With Uneven Structure first on stage the assembled metallers are at least given time to grow into things with the help of the heaviest band on display this evening. Content to do a little more than just pulverise the audience with their sonic weight, these Frenchmen are one of the more atmospheric acts of their ilk around at the moment and deserve credit for their attempts to turn music founded upon technicality into something more ethereal and interesting. Blood Command win fewer points for originality. Their brand of punky metal comes replete with the odd hardcore shout from frontwoman Silje Tombre, giving the slight impression that they are trying to hang on to the coattails of fellow Norwegians Kvelertak. Sadly there is very little that is memorable about their half hour set apart from some dishearteningly out of key vocals.
Long Distance Calling may have released a slightly disappointing third record last year but live they are of proven quality and so it is that they step up to the plate here and win over a metal hungry crowd. Their tracks may often be slow burners but they build into riff heavy crescendos satisfyingly enough to raise plenty of enthused headbanging from the onlookers. When Long Distance Calling depart however it becomes increasingly obvious who the crowd are really here to see. The unrestrained excitement in the air is of the sort rarely seen for metal gigs in Manchester on a Wednesday night.
When Protest the Hero do eventually bound on stage (to 'The Circle of Life' no less) it is to a reception usually reserved for heroes of the genre rather than those who may still be considered by many as a cult concern. What is apparent throughout this headline set is that this band are all about the energy. Their frenetic prog metal is a never halting barrage of twisting tech riffs all hammered out at the speed of a particularly rapid express train. Frontman Rody Walker is an enigmatic figure out front, clearly revelling in the sing-alongs of the faithful and more than capable of some witty between song banter when required as well. Meanwhile his band mates vary between the goon-like headbanging of bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi and the stoic, concentrated approach adopted by guitarists Luke Hoskin and Tim Millar.
After a blistering hour the band depart to the despair of their hardcore fans and it is clear that perhaps Protest the Hero are a little more than just a cult concern after all. This is not to say that they are the finished article. Some more variety in songwriting would allow them to push their live show to the next level and it is obvious to regular Academy gig goers that the PA here was never going to give them the aural clarity that would truly allow their music to shine. Nevertheless as they leave Manchester there will be few present here tonight who would begrudge another opportunity to see the Canadians strut their stuff.
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When Protest the Hero do eventually bound on stage (to 'The Circle of Life' no less) it is to a reception usually reserved for heroes of the genre rather than those who may still be considered by many as a cult concern. What is apparent throughout this headline set is that this band are all about the energy. Their frenetic prog metal is a never halting barrage of twisting tech riffs all hammered out at the speed of a particularly rapid express train. Frontman Rody Walker is an enigmatic figure out front, clearly revelling in the sing-alongs of the faithful and more than capable of some witty between song banter when required as well. Meanwhile his band mates vary between the goon-like headbanging of bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi and the stoic, concentrated approach adopted by guitarists Luke Hoskin and Tim Millar.
