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Protagonist

The Chronicle
2009
Paper + Plastick

Protagonist - The Chronicle (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Brian
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Protagonist @ Paper + Plastick (link)

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Published on August 25th 2009

Paper + Plastick could definitely help the melodic punk diversity of its roster with a few melodic hardcore additions, and one such act, Protagonist might be a good candidate to assist in mixing it up. Unfortunately, their perfectly average label debut, The Chronicle, doesn't quite stack up.

This is assuredly melodic hardcore of the Strike Anywhere variety, done well enough, but without an extra ingredient to make it stick or invigorate. Mostly instrumental opener "Play Hard Play Fast Play Together" could benefit from being peppered with a few more lyrical inclusions instead of its bundle of riffs that come at the immediate outset. "Light the Fuse" is a more well-conceived blast of Exit English-esque melodic fury and utilizes their partially versatile vocals a little more successfully, although a lot of it feels like it's been done before in a pretty direct manner. There's a definite Bouncing Souls bassline thumping around "1095 Days" to give the album a sudden, slight genre reach-around. "From Florida to Philadelphia" does the same, except with a weird, poppy street punk vibe that doesn't quite gibe with the rest of the album.

If nothing else, The Chronicle sounds fantastic. The recording is punchy and the songs sound full-bodied and polished to the perfect level. I can't find credits anywhere, really, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was recorded at the Blasting Room.

Still, The Chronicle is missing an extra 'oomph' to take Protagonist's predecessors' sound into at least partially new or exciting territory. One could easily imagine Protagonist doing it on their next release, but this album doesn't quite chronicle it.

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Charge (The Chronicle)

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Posted by onegirlarmy on 2009-11-21 20:21:28

Gotta admit, as much as I dig this record, the hardcore song immediately into random street punk song caught me a bit off guard... haha

Posted by VictimOfADriveBy on 2009-11-20 22:34:41
My Score:

Maybe this album will grow on me, but this album is missing something. I'll probably see them live soon and maybe then I'll change my mind.

They sound like a mix of Comeback Kid and Strike Anywhere.

Posted by DrewXFishy on 2009-08-27 12:55:41
My Score:

this rekkid rules
dont you people get it
its a damn good rekkid
you can compare them to bands all day but the fact is they can stand their own ground yo!

shame on you, youre missing out

Posted by KevinH on 2009-08-27 03:28:43
My Score:

I would've given this a 6/10, but I actually like that Brian tempers his scores a bit and doesn't throw out 9s and 10s for every band with an orgcore sound.

Posted by friokir on 2009-08-26 08:21:22

as much as I love SA, (altough I've not given this enough listens to be exactly sure) I think this record has more gears to it the instrumentation seems a bit more developed, so the SA comparison is maybe a bit too siplistic. man, if only SA returned to their Chorus of One sound - score is for this dream that'll never come true.

Posted by jlb on 2009-08-25 19:22:10

ok ok ok srry.
the douche bag thing was harsh....
however their debut was on blackout!
just sayin, just sayin....

Posted by onegirlarmy on 2009-08-25 15:32:58

While I disagree with the review, I also see it from the reviewer perspective. If you're given a job to review something and you just didn't really enjoy it, are you going to lie about it?

Posted by KidDangerCat on 2009-08-25 14:33:54
My Score:

Oh, and, score is for using the term "reach-around".

Posted by KidDangerCat on 2009-08-25 14:32:04
My Score:

I have to agree with the reviewer, this cd just really didn't do it for me.
The first song I'd heard by these guys was the title track, which got me reallllly stoked. But honestly, every other track on the album wasn't quite up to par.
I wanna like these guys, I really do, but I think this might be on my "Letdown Albums of 2009".

Posted by you_are_a_loser on 2009-08-25 13:05:45
My Score:

Yet another awesome release getting a 2.5/5 from Brian. Go figure.

Posted by onegirlarmy on 2009-08-25 12:57:46

I think Brian was trying to get that this was their debut for a "known" label?

Posted by inagreendase on 2009-08-25 11:04:46

I'd probably be less of a douche had I given this "debut" a positive score, no?

Posted by Blackjaw_ on 2009-08-25 03:36:18

Yeah, jlb's right. I used to listen to them a few years ago, they played shows with No Harm Done and Fallen From The Sky and stuff and had a couple releases. You're not a douchebag though. :)

Posted by jlb on 2009-08-25 02:07:54

fucking douche bag do your research....this isnt a debut.

and its a stellar record

Posted by Blackjaw_ on 2009-08-25 00:43:10
My Score:

It's alright, really good for its 'subgenre', but I don't/won't listen to it often.

Posted by onegirlarmy on 2009-08-25 00:24:26
My Score:

Disagree too, I think this record is very solid. Especially when comparing to their older material, this blows that out of the water. Good band, good record, one of my favorites of the year.

Posted by jo_punk_promoter on 2009-08-25 00:11:08
My Score:

well i gotta disagree with you, i think it's a pretty solid release and at least, you could have developed a little bit more your review...

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