Protagonist - The Chronicle Record Label: Paper & Plastick
Release Date: April 10, 2009
Who?
Cacophonous South Florida punk rockers making good on marketing help from members of Less Than Jake and New Found Glory. Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello calls Protagonist's work ethic "untiring" and "inspiring to (LTJ) and other bands" - high praise from a respected veteran of the punk scene.
How Is It?
Protagonist is musically what you'd expect from just about every other gritty punk rock band out there. But that's not to say they're on equal footing with everyone else. Punk rock is "in" again at the moment, but if anything, they have twice the taste for soul as they do for image. On The Chronicle, they drink deeply from the essence of summer nights, and then regurgitate on rowdy numbers "Light The Fuze, "1095 Days" and "IAMTHEGHOST." Elsewhere, they sound pissed, like in "Attack!'s" one minute of furious hardcore, or on "Tell Your Friends To Run," where they complain loudly: "The days are getting longer / And the nights won't seem to fucking end." "The Winter Fire" and "Charge (The Chronicle)" are sentimental while retaining the heavy, melodic edge and "Vampires Only Come Out At Midnight" just might be the inspirational track of the season.
In a crowded niche of similar sounding hopefuls, it's easy to overlook Protagonist. But they really defy the average, and it's all thanks to the passion that drips like sweat from their songs. "We play hard / We play fast / We play together!" declares the closing song, and it's screamed in a voice that means it. The Chronicle isn't bad at all, and Protagonist is going places.
I gave it a few listens, and it's pretty overrated and unoriginal.
it's not bad by any means, it just isn't that good.
Florida to Philadelphia seems really out of place on it.
I'd rather just listen to Canyoneer.
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