Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (2011)

Protest The Hero has finally released Scurrilous, their third studio album, and followup to the 2008 Fortress. It's an easy call on my part to say that this is a very solid album, and if you find yourself not liking Protest The Hero at first, they easily grow on you.

1. C'est la Vie [3:33]
2. Hair-Trigger [4:50]
3. Tandem [5:16]
4. Moonlight [4:50]
5. Tapestry [4:35]
6. Dunsel [4:54]
7. The Reign Of Unending Terror [3:24]
8. Termites [3:58]
9. Tough-splitter [4:34]
10. Sex Tapes [4:39]

With the release of Scurrilous, Protest the Hero has once again demonstrated that they've got skill and talent in abundance. They don't capture the majesty that was their first album, Kezia, however Scurrilous either holds up to and excels Fortress on almost every level. Tracks like Tandem and Tapestry are prime examples of how skilled Protest the Hero are at composing music, and their lyrics are still as enigmatic, beautiful, and profane as their previous albums.

C'est la Vie is an average track, compared to the rest of the album. Hair Trigger raises the stakes a lot more, giving you a better taste of the other great tracks to be found on the album. Tandem, Moonlight, and Tapestry are all instant favorites of mine, showcasing all that I enjoy about PtH; Rody Walker's unique voice capturing both low and high notes bang-on, the constantly changing time signatures and tempos, and the many catchy riffs present in any single track. Dunsel and Termites are both average tracks, and pleasant to the ears, however The Reign of Unending Terror and Tongue-Splitter I would consider lower points on the album. And last, and in this case, least on the album there's Sex Tapes, where I don't find many redeeming qualities; the lyrics are humourous and intriguing, but I'm not the kind of person who likes my metal to contain the repeated lyrics "And all the boys are jerking off in private on the internet" for example.

Overall, a pretty solid album. Like I touched on above, Scurrilous didn't impress me to the degree that Kezia had when I first heard it, but it has a much more polished and practiced sound to it than either of their previous albums. In no particular order of preference, Hair-Trigger, Tandem, Moonlight and Tapestry are all standout tracks on this album, and I know they'll be included on best-of playlists of mine for years to come. Dunsel and Termites are other tracks I would recommend, though maybe not to the degree to the four I previously mentioned.

Final Score:
86/100

Scale The Summit - The Collective (2011)

This is Scale the Summit's 3rd studio album, The Collective. In a contrast to the constantly upbeat mood of their previous album, Carving Desert Canyons, The Collective has a darker and more serious feel to it.

1. Colossal [3:48]
2. Whales [6:28]
3. Emersion [2:33]
4. The Levitated [3:02]
5. Secret Earth [3:38]
6. Gallows [4:33]
7. Origin of Species [2:45]
8. Alpenlow [3:58]
9. Black Hills [7:59]
10. Balkan [3:44]
11. Drifting Figures [3:10]

It's hard to describe, but suffice to say everything about this album is less 'in your face' and more laid back than Carving Desert Canyons. It doesn't make it better or worse, just different. Colossal immediately sets the tone of The Collective as a whole, with its somber guitar melody mixed into Scale The Summit's already characteristic drumming and definitive guitar playing style. Whales is much more experimental in terms of Scale The Summit's style, with a blend of both soaring guitar arpeggios with very technical drumming, and slow ambient guitar combined with easy-going drums. The main chorus is a little grating, with the over-repetitive use of one chord, over and over.

Gallows and Alpenglow are other great examples of how Scale the Summit has changed and matured since their last album, while Emersion and Black Hills are both instances of how a band can both create a new feel, while not losing what already sets them apart from other bands.

My main complaint with The Collective is the same one I had with Carving Desert Canyons; there's not enough variety to distinguish tracks from one another. The Collective is certainly a step in the right direction, as Carving Desert Canyons felt like one long song, but if you take a 10 second snippet from any track, 4 times out of 5 you'll probably not be able to confidently say which track it belongs to. Honestly though, and I said this for Carving Desert Canyons too, the music is so well structured and sounds so nice, that I just need to shut up and enjoy it.

Final Score:
85/100

Stratovarius - Elysium (2011)

Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that's been around since 1984, and they're one of the most popular and influencial bands in the power metal genre. I can honestly say I was greatly looking forward to this album, but I can't help feeling disappointed with it. It's not completely a loss though, as I'll explain in a bit.

1. Darkest Hours [4:10]
2. Under Flaming Skies [3:51]
3. Infernal Maze [5:32]
4. Fairness Justified [4:20]
5. The Game Never Ends [3:53]
6. Lifetime In A Moment [6:38]
7. Move The Mountain [5:33]
8. Event Horizon [4:23]
9. Elysium [18:06]

Elysium as an album is a treat to the ears on some tracks, but for some reason I always take a while to adjust to Timo Kotipelto's vocals. Some of the tracks on this album just sound too generic for me to enjoy thoroughly, but luckily Stratovarius still has some tricks up their sleeves, like the 18 minute album namesake, Elysium. Being the longest song Stratovarius has put on a studio album yet, this song is a strong mix of power and progressive metal, and easily the highlight of the album. So many great solos to be found here, and the vocals really stand out here compared to the rest of the album.

That being said, there are some catchy riffs and vocals to be found in Lifetime In A Moment, as well as Fairness Justified. Like I mentioned above however, there are some tracks that are simply too generic to enjoy throughly, like Under Flaming Skies, or too laid back, like Move The Mountain. Now, I almost universally enjoy variety in my metal albums, but it has to be done right - Timo Kotipelto's vocals just don't go well with a slow tempo song, and the solos don't fit well in there either. I'm looking at you synthesizer.

Overall, a sturdy album by Stratovarius - not solid, but 'sturdy'. I highly recommend the track Elysium, while Lifetime In A Moment and Event Horizon are worth a listen. If you like what you're hearing, I'd say give Fairness Justified and The Game Never Ends a try too, but I would avoid the rest of the album personally.

Final Score:
73/100