Protest The Hero: From punk to jaw-droopingly complex music….

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The band Protest The Hero states, «One of the many new ingredients that went into making Palimpsest was the addition of orchestration. We turned again to our friend (and mortal enemy) Milen Petzelt Sorace to help realize our vision, and to add a lot of his own. We love behind the scenes kinda stuff, so we encouraged Milen to share some of the techniques and motivation that went into each song». The track Canary,

The writing process for Palimpses took longer than other Prostes The Hero records. With no label to deliver a master, and no deadlines for upcoming tours or promo cycles, the band figured they should take their time and write what they wanted. If their last effort (Pacific Myth) was a project designed to limit their over-thinking of every detail, Palimpsest is surely the opposite. Each idea on this record had to fight for its place – and what better way to create additional discourse than adding an orchestra!?

From the very first song they wrote, the band had new instruments in mind for certain sections.  Many sections on the record started with an idea for piano, strings or even brass.  The band penned them in with virtual instruments – knowing that one day they would actually have to create them!

Enter: Milen Petzelt Sorace – a friend of the band, sure. But more importantly, someone they knew who could actually create these sounds!

Milen Petzelt Sorace is a composer and long time Sheet Happens consultant on all things orchestration, so hiring him on to help translate their ideas for Palimpsest, and to contribute his own, was really a no brainer for PTH. Just as easy was the decision to have him write up a series about the creation of Palimpsest’s orchestral back bone. Take it away Milen!

Ontario’s Protest The Hero was formed in 1999 when the band members were only 14 years old under the moniker Happy Go Lucky. The day after their senior exams the young band went out on tour to gain exposure.

Their sound was originally hardcore punk and in 2002 and 2003 they released The Search For Truth and A Calculated Use Of Sound EP’s respectively. In 2005 Protest The Hero signed to Vagrant Records and released their first full length album Kezia. A concept album, Kezia signaled a dramatic shift in their sound. The band began experimenting with unconventional song structures, incorporating elements of metalcore, mathcore and progressive metal into their music. The track No Stars Over Bethelehem from the above mentioned album Keiza.

Fortress was release in 2008. Although the album is broken into three movements, it is not exactly a concept album but an album revolving around a single concept, which according to their former bassist and lyricist Arif Mirabdolbaghi is more akin to goddess worship in the tradition of Robert Grave.

Protest The Hero is an excellent example of a band taking elements of various genres and creating intelligent, original and jaw-droopingly complex music and arerecommended. The Line-up: Rody Walker – Vocals, Luke Hoskin – Guitars, Tim MacMillar – Guitars, Mike Ieradi – Drums.Special Guest: Todd Kowalski – Bass

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