The Charlatans Won’t Like This One.
Volition is in my top ten albums of all time — not top ten prog metal, top ten everything. So when Protest the Hero blacked out their socials last week and started teasing something, I was watching. They’re back, and this time it sounds different.
Within — PTH’s sixth studio album and first since 2020’s Palimpsest — arrives July 17th. The Canadians are releasing the 8-track record completely independently, co-produced by Derya Nagle (Good Tiger) and mixed by Nolly (Periphery). Lead single “Mouthpiece” is out now with a full music video.
That independence isn’t incidental — it’s the whole point. Guitarist Tim MacMillar was direct: “This record is us putting our foot down. We’re not interested in participating in that system anymore. We’re focused on the future. And for the first time, it’s completely in our hands.” A Canadian band that has never needed anyone’s permission, now operating fully on their own terms.
“Mouthpiece” backs it up. The song is explicitly political — a broadside against podcasters, corporate media, and the wealth gap dressed up as a culture war. Rody Walker frames it as a world of “brilliant colour reduced to black and white by charlatans.” Really unique piece of music, and the last minute in particular — it just rocks. Reminds you why you loved this band in the first place.
I caught the Volition 10th anniversary tour a couple years back and these guys are one of the best live bands going. They sound even better in a room than on record, which almost nobody can say. July 17th can’t come fast enough. Watching to see what the tour looks like too.
Pre-order Within: sheethappenspublishing.com