Fortress (Protest the Hero album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Fortress
| type = studio
| artist = Protest the Hero
| cover = Protest the Hero - Fortress.jpg
| alt =
| released = January 29, 2008
| recorded = 2007
Hamilton, Ontario and Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, Ontario
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = *Progressive metal
| length = 41:10
| label = Underground Operations (Canada), Vagrant (USA)
| producer = Julius "Juice" Butty
| prev_title = Kezia
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Gallop Meets the Earth
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Fortress
| type = studio
| single1 = Bloodmeat
| single1date = December 12, 2007 (Canadian release only)
| single2 = Sequoia Throne
| single2date = April 25, 2008
| single3 = Palms Read
| single3date = 2008
| single4 = Spoils
| single4date = April 2009
}}
}}
Fortress is the second studio album by Canadian band Protest the Hero which was released on January 29, 2008 on Vagrant Records in the US and Underground Operations in Canada.
Overview
Fortress was recorded at Silo Studios in Hamilton, Ontario during the summer of 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/26266 |title=Date set for upcoming Protest the Hero album |publisher=Punknews.org |date= October 30, 2007|accessdate=September 8, 2010}} The album contains 10 tracks broken into three movements, separated by piano interludes, and is approximately 41 minutes in length. The band has stated that the sound is similar to Kezia but with a "less poppy and more technical metal" influence. Fortress does not revolve around a single concept, unlike their previous album. Instead, it is more akin to "goddess worship in the tradition of Robert Graves," according to their bassist and lyricist Arif Mirabdolbaghi:{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=80970 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201162410/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=80970 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - PROTEST THE HERO: 'Fortress' Pushed Back To Early 2008 |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |accessdate=September 8, 2010 }}
"It has to do with goddess worship, and how there has been this degendering of the Lord and Savior, and the suppressed feminine. A lot of it is based in Genghis Khan and old Irish Mythology, about the rise and fall of the Goddess of the forest. [The theme] can be more appreciated by more people. If I had to reduce it to its simplest form, the concept is about the re-emerging of goddess worship and the erosion of faith in scientific process."{{cite web|url=http://www.subba-cultcha.com/article_news.php?id=760 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219224754/http://www.subba-cultcha.com/article_news.php?id=760 |archivedate=December 19, 2007 |title=PROTEST THE HERO release new album |publisher=Subba-Cultcha.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-01}}
Also, states lead singer Rody Walker:
"This album is nothing to be intellectualized. All talk of wonder, pathos and optimism aside. I feel it’s a very natural progression for us. A natural progression into further obscurity. I am of the belief a lot of the people who work for us were hoping for a stab at a more commercially viable album, however we wrote what we wanted without linear boundaries and created something less commercial than ever. Some fans of the band will hate it. And some people who hate the band will love it. All others can rot."{{cite web |url=http://www.vagrant.com/news |title=News | Vagrant Records |publisher=Vagrant.com |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2010 |archive-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917210545/http://vagrant.com/news/ |url-status=dead }}
Singles
In January, a music video was shot for the song "Bloodmeat",{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/protestthehero |title=Protest The Hero- FORTRESS OUT NOW! - Whitby, CA - Metal / Punk / Thrash |publisher=MySpace.com |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2010}} which is available on the [https://web.archive.org/web/20071218125932/http://axs.muchmusic.com/?fr_story=8a8696bb72332d8d815fbda0b1afbb3612124c64 MuchMusic website]. As of December 11, "Bloodmeat" is available for download on the Canadian iTunes Music Store. Additionally, the band released the song "Sequoia Throne" on their MySpace page audio player, but was later replaced with "Bloodmeat".
A music video for the song "Sequoia Throne" was filmed and released in April, and was also made available on the MuchMusic website. Another video, this one for "Palms Read", began filming in September{{cite web|url=http://grindingtheapparatus.net/news/protest-the-hero-to-film-palms-read-video.html |title=Protest the Hero to film 'Palms Read' video |date=August 1, 2008 |accessdate=August 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202084515/http://grindingtheapparatus.net/news/protest-the-hero-to-film-palms-read-video.html |archivedate=December 2, 2008 }} under director Sean Michael Turrell, and was released in late October.{{cite web|url=http://sputnikmusic.com/news.php?newsid=7778|title=New Protest the Hero video|author=|date=October 8, 2008|accessdate=November 5, 2008}}
A fourth video was also directed by Sean Mitchell Turner for the fourth and final single, "Spoils". The video was released in December.{{cite web|url=https://www.protestthehero.ca/videos/10/spoils|title=Protest the hero : Spoils|date=December 14, 2009|accessdate=December 13, 2023}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = The A.V. Club
| rev2 = AbsolutePunk.net
| rev3 = Allmusic
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1293305|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic: Fortress Review|author=Katherine Fulton|date=|accessdate=December 26, 2008}}
| rev4 = Alternative Press
| rev5 = Now
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web|last=Davies |first=Evan |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=161647 |title=Protest The Hero | Now Magazine |publisher=Nowtoronto.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-01}}
| rev6 = Punknews.org
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/review/7589 |title=Protest the Hero - Fortress |publisher=Punknews.org |date= August 26, 2008|accessdate=2012-07-01}}
| rev7 = Sputnikmusic
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}} {{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/14877/Protest-the-Hero-Fortress/ |title=Protest the Hero - Fortress (staff review) |publisher=Sputnikmusic |date=January 16, 2008 |accessdate=2012-07-01}}
}}
Fortress debuted at #95 on the US Billboard Top 200 chart with first week sales of 7,600 copies,{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |title=THE MARS VOLTA, PROTEST THE HERO, AIRBOURNE |date=February 6, 2008 |publisher=blabbermouth.net |accessdate=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209113202/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |archivedate=February 9, 2008 }} also managing #10 spot on the Billboard Top Independent Album chart.[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-03-01/independent-albums] {{Dead link|date=September 2010}} In Canada, the album achieved #1 status the first week of its release.{{cite web |url=http://www.jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050417041937/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 17, 2005 |title=Canada Album Chart |publisher=Jam.canoe.ca |accessdate=September 8, 2010 }} Mike Portnoy named this album one of his favourite albums of 2008 on his official web page.
Fortress, like its predecessor Kezia, achieved universal acclaim with high regards from many major publications, receiving a comprehensive score of 86 on Metacritic making it the 12th best reviewed album on the site for 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/protestthehero/fortress|title=Protest the Hero: Fortress (2008): Reviews|author=|website=Metacritic|date=|accessdate=December 26, 2008|archive-date=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218055338/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/protestthehero/fortress|url-status=dead}} Tyler Patrick Munro of SputnikMusic states: "The album improves on everything established on Kezia (right down to the much more natural sounding piano codas), and it does so without the sometimes blatant repetition of its predecessor." He cites the track "Bone Marrow," stating: "While 'Bone Marrow' places more emphasis on the underpinning synths of the first two tracks, its heavy orchestration still takes a backseat to its varying structure, which fluidly transits from hyper-melodic up-tempo to ball-crushing gutturals and chugged syncopation, all of which are made twice as effective by the interwoven bass slapping," and compares the style of the opener "Bloodmeat" to the dissonance of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Converge.{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=23330|title=Protest the Hero: Fortress Review by Tyler Patrick Munro|author=Tyler Patrick Munro|date=January 16, 2008|accessdate=December 26, 2008}} John A. Hanson, also reviewing for Sputnikmusic, writes: "[W]ith Fortress, Protest the Hero have almost shed all of their past imperfections and crafted something really special," going on to praise frontman Rody Walker for his vocal range and improvement since Kezia.{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=14954|title=Protest the Hero: Fortress Review by John. A. Hanson|author=John A. Hanson|date=January 24, 2008|accessdate=December 26, 2008}} Katherine Fulton of Allmusic praised the band for their originality and boldness, writing: "More risks are taken, from the nearly hidden horns on 'The Dissentience' to the shimmering piano solo at the beginning of 'Sequoia Throne' and the playful interlude that bridges 'Palms Read' and 'Limb from Limb,'" though she ultimately criticized the album's "frantic" pace.
Track listing
Fortress is broken up into three sections, all of which are titled, except the second section though it is often referred to as the album title. An intro track before "Bloodmeat" can be found by rewinding from the CD from the beginning. This pre-gap is not detected by iTunes.
{{Track listing
| headline = (untitled) (Intro)
| title0 = (untitled)
| length0 = 0:54
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = On Conquest and Capture
| all_writing = Protest the Hero
| title1 = Bloodmeat
| length1 = 3:54
| title2 = The Dissentience
| length2 = 4:23
| title3 = Bone Marrow
| length3 = 5:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = (untitled) (Fortress)
| title4 = Sequoia Throne
| length4 = 3:11
| title5 = Palms Read
| length5 = 5:06
| title6 = Limb from Limb
| length6 = 4:22
| title7 = Spoils
| length7 = 3:43
| all_writing =
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Isosceles
| title8 = Wretch
| length8 = 4:12
| title9 = Goddess Bound
| length9 = 3:35
| title10 = Goddess Gagged
| length10 = 3:14
| all_writing =
| total_length = 41:10
}}
Personnel
- Rody Walker - vocals
- Luke Hoskin - guitar, piano, backing vocals
- Tim Millar - guitar, piano
- Arif Mirabdolbaghi - bass, backing vocals
- Moe Carlson - drums
=Additional personnel=
- Vadim Pruzhanov - keyboards on the track "Limb From Limb".
- Dan Fila - Additional percussion
- Julius "Juice" Butty - Producer, backing vocals
- Mark Spicoluk - Executive producer
- Nick Blagona - Engineer
- Sons of Nero - artwork
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Provider(s) !align="left"|Peak !align="left"|Weeks on |
|---|
| align="left"|Canadian Album Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|CRIA | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|2 |
| align="left"|Top Independent Albums
| style="text-align:center;"|Billboard | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|3 |
| align="left"|Top Hard Rock Albums[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-16/hard-rock-albums] {{Dead link|date=September 2010}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Billboard | style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| align="left"|U.S. Billboard 200[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-16/billboard-200 Billboard 200 Chart] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817073714/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-16/billboard-200 |date=August 17, 2013 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|Billboard | style="text-align:center;"|95 | style="text-align:center;"|1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
Other sources
- {{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |title=Amazon |accessdate=February 6, 2008 |work=Blabbermouth.net |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209113202/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |archivedate=February 9, 2008 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |title=Blabbermouth |accessdate=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209113202/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=90102 |archivedate=February 9, 2008 }}
External links
- {{Metacritic album|title=Fortress}}
{{Protest the Hero}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fortress (Protest The Hero Album)}}
Category:Protest the Hero albums
Category:Underground Operations albums