Canada is a country known for its Metal exports, and we’re not just talking about the Sudbury Nickel mines in Northern Ontario, all you need to do is turn soonest to Southern Ontario, and voila! Formed in Whitby, Ontario, Prog Metalcore veterans Protest the Hero have been consistently putting out cutting-edge, stunning albums for almost two decades at this point. Releasing an instant classic in the form of Kezia, written at the tender age of 16, Protest the Hero have since been a mainstay in Progressive Metalcore and a Canadian National Treasure, releasing five albums and an EP worth in glorious form, leaving us with no choice but to rank every Protest the Hero album from least best to best.
5. Scurrilous (2011)
Scurrilous is the third album by Protest the Hero, and the only use of the word scurrilous since the 1920s outside of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” It is a pivot point on their musical journey,and the band starts to embrace guitar theatrics and shred more and more, sometimes to the detriment of the songs. This is also the last album to feature original drummer Moe Carlson before his sellout era, going to college to work a square job (literally, as he is a tool and die maker). Not a bad album (and there are no bad Protest the Hero albums), it’s just that with all due respect “Scurrilous,” we wish you weren’t so awkward bud.
Play It Again: “Tongue-Splitter”
Skip It: “Dunsel”
4. Volition (2013)
Recorded with the blessings of Lamb of God drum gonzo Chris Adler, “Volition” finds balance between the shred and their punk cred, even writing the Newfoundland and Labrador national anthem with “Mist,” to the joy of Canada’s newest province. This was also the last album to feature original bassist Arif Mirabdobaghi, and occasional backing vocalist Jadea Kelly, as they left to pursue other endeavours, signalling winds of change for the boys, and a misty one at that. Best enjoyed among pints and friends, preferably in Goddamn Newfoundland.
Play It Again: “Yellow Teeth,” “Mist,” and “A Life Embossed”
Skip It: “Underbite” (more like under par. Wait, being under par might actually be a good thing)
Honorable Mention: Pacific Myth (EP) (2018)
Possibly released hoping that people would confuse it with the more successful “Pacific Rim,” this EP feels like an extension of “Volition,” with similar songwriting, vibe, and ragged and jagged energy to it. It’s also the first release to feature Mike Ieardi on drums, and he fits right alongside longtime session/live bassist Cam McLellan, proving that even without Moe and Arif, there were still plenty of riffs in the band, and that’s not Mentioning Rhythm Guitarist Tim MacMillar’s gorgeous keyboard playing.
3. Palimpsest (2020)
Released in the year of Satan 2020, this devilishly delectable album proved that Protest were not going down with the rest of the music industry, even if longtime guitar wizard Luke Hoskin retired from touring to focus on writing spellbooks (Guitar Tabs) for novice spellcasters. “Palimpsest” feels more topical and down to Earth with its subject matter compared to earlier releases, covering the then-growing migrant crisis, social unrest, and climate crisis facing us all, even to this day. All accomplished with the class, musicianship that we all love from the boys. The album even features a cameo from Prophagandi bassist Todd Kowalski on the track “the Canary,” and as a result, no further analysis required.
Play It Again: ‘The Migrant Mother”
Skip It: “Harborside”
2. Kezia (2005)
A feminist concept album split into three parts covering the last rights and execution of the titular Kezia, sung from the point of view of the Priest giving the last rights, executioner, and Kezia. This debut established the band as another Canadian legend Ginger Fitzgerald would say, as a “Goddamn force of Nature ” in the National Metal scene. “No Stars over Bethlehem ” kicks off the album like a hailstorm of bullets from a chaingun right out of the starting gate, and the fury doesn’t let up for a single second until the album closes. If this was the sole release of Protest the Hero, we would still be writing an article on this band, with its blend of high-minded ideas and emotional delivery, not to mention the then-young band given’er on all fronts musically. Oh yeah, she’s a monument of dicks and ribs for ya.
Play It Again: “The Divine Suicide of K”
Skip It: ‘Nautical”
1. Fortress (2008)
The soundtrack to the act of conquest, “Fortress” is a furious, sprawling and enthralling prog metalcore epic, toning down the skate punk influence of “Kezia” and the band is left with a rich, full sound that contains aggression, beauty, and melody in all the right quantities, even cementing lead singer Rody Walker as Canada’s answer to Bruce Dickinson. So good that it shot to number one a former Commonwealth Nation despite containing the lyrics “The Royalty Must Die,” even Queen Elizabeth gave this album two thumbs, but unfortunately perished rich, instead of as a common beggar and petty thief that all monarchs, oligarchs, and Bourgeois are by nature. All we have left to say about this album is, oh Bah’d.
Play It Again: “Bloodmeat,” after “Goddess Bound and Goddess Gagged” end the album in the sexiest fashion
Skip It: Yeah, Nah