Protest The Hero, and I have a history. Ever since I was introduced to Kezia by a good friend at Ye Olde Alma Mater, I’ve paid close attention to anything they release. Add to the equation that they made their political stances quite clear on Palimpsest in 2020; they happen to align with mine, and it reaffirmed they’re a band for me.
Six years after the excellent, previously mentioned album, the Canadians are back with… Within. I’m here to tell you there’s no loss of potency, energy, or quality from the extended break.
You can quote me on that and listen to “Fishhook.” It’s upbeat and infinitely relatable. The chorus is one of those that sounds cheesy at first, which it is, but they’re no stranger to it. In case you didn’t know or had somehow forgotten, the band’s musical chops are on full display with stellar performances all around. Rody expresses more optimism than I do as far as bridging the partisan divide that plagues the planet, but especially the United States.
I’d rather talk far less about my country, so I’ll move on to track five, “The Orchard.” There’s another excellent hook in the song’s refrain, but it’s also another display of their stellar musicianship. There’s a quick turn into power metal territory during the instrumental section not long after the first chorus, which shows the band can pull off anything if they wish. It’s excellent, but not quite on the same level as the closer; not much is.
That last track in question, “The Mariner,” I am appropriately going to feature at the end of the review. It’s quite an anthem. There’s enough technical brilliance to take the breath away of any accomplished musician. However, there’s a succulent, meaty chorus on which the casual fan can feast. It might impact your stomach, butit will assuredly hit you in your heart, then get stuck in your brain.
It’s difficult to label Within as anything other than Album of the Year material. It displays ina stunning fashion a band that is firing on all cylinders. They’re pissed off, but who can blame them? However, there is an underlying optimism permeating the entire album. This isn’t your typical 2026 “end times approaching” masterpiece. Sure, there’s some doom and gloom, although you’d never know it because of how up-tempo Protest The Hero’s signature sound truly is, but there’s hope.
