Your Protected is
their self-titled debut CD and draws a description in various places as a
progressive metal instrumental band. The CD has 6 tracks with a total running
time of around 20 minutes. The longest track is track 3, “Bright Black” at 4:20
minutes and the shortest is “Dark White” lasting a mere 2:12 minutes.
I
always feel that instrumental albums (or mini albums/ep) need to have something
extra to ensure that they hold the listeners attention. With that in mind, and
having played the CD several times, does this band have that little extra?
With
all these tracks under the 4:30 minute mark in length, it is unlikely that the
possibility of being too long will come into play. My most listened tracks at
the moment are the opening two tracks on the CD, “Cordyceps” (3:02) and “Do The Trapeze” (3:44).
“Cordyceps”
opens with a measured bass and a pleasant guitar riff repeating before the
drums appear, and the guitar riff evolves into an instantly recognizable metal
style riff. The drums and bass certainly lay a firm foundation for the two
guitarists to build their riffs upon the guitarists, James and Chris…interplaying
riffs creating a mini “wall of sound” which is maintained to the finale. It likely all ends probably just before the
point of no return because it they had continued in the same vein they may have
run the risk of losing the listener.
“Do
The Trapeze” has a very catchy intro with that first riff still going round and
round in my head searching for the name of what it is reminiscent of (by the
time the review is online, I’m sure that I will have remembered). The top
guitar riff is catchy above the solid drums and bass backdrop. Little flashes
of very bluesy sounding riffs are replaced around the 2 minute mark with an
almost solo bass ultimately being joined by a lead guitar producing a very
atmospheric passage. The drums become more prevalent, underpinning the track as
it moves to its closure. The slight time and instrument changes maintain the
interest of the listener to the end.
My
one area of concern about instrumental albums has been reiterated here. Good
though some of the tracks are, I was almost looking for a vocalist to really lift
them. Technically, Your Protected is
a good debut album, but not one, in my view, to set the heather alight. I don’t
feel that there is that “je ne sais quoi” factor contained in the 6 tracks here
on show.
Not
an essential purchase, I don’t think, but worth a listen, especially as my
opinion may not mirror that of everyone.
3.5 Stars
Key
Tracks: Cordyceps, Do The Trapeze
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-MuzikReviews.com Staff
February 19, 2013
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