Kezia
Encyclopedia
Kezia is the debut full-length release by the Canadian progressive metal
band Protest the Hero
. It is considered a concept album.
gold-selling album Watch Out!
). After mounting anticipation from fans, Kezia was released in Canada on August 30, 2005 selling 500 copies in the first week and went on to sell more than 5000 copies in the next 2–3 weeks, not including off-stage sales at the several release parties and shows the band played the week of release. The American release on April 4, 2006 debuted with an online contest where the first one hundred album purchases were rewarded with an additional album - A Calculated Use of Sound
, the 2004 reissue.
Kezia is a concept album, described by the band members as a "situationist requiem". The lyrics tell the story of a woman named Kezia and her execution by firing squad. The story is chronicled in the perspective of three characters: the priest who presides over her execution, one of the prison guards who is to kill her, and Kezia herself. Each character is designated a section containing three songs, with a single retrospective finale concluding the album. According to the band, each of the three characters represent an aspect of the band members themselves.
for their 2005 CASBY Awards for Favorite New Indie Release, and received a glowing review in Time Canada magazine.
The song "Bury the Hatchet" is available for download on the Xbox 360
version of Guitar Hero II
. "Divinity Within" is also featured on the soundtrack to NHL 07
.
's second music video, for the song "Blindfolds Aside", was released in November 2005. The video features Protest the Hero as both condemned victims and executioners. The condemned are wearing blindfolds for the majority of the video and playing their instruments whereas the executioners are dressed as soldiers. The video contains the song shortened by 35 seconds, removing some instrumental sections that appear on the album version. "Blindfolds Aside" receives light rotation on the music television station Much Music, but greater exposure on the brother channel Much Loud. The video was filmed in Toronto
, Ontario
.
The band filmed their third video for the song "Heretics and Killers" in mid-February 2006. It was released in April 2006. The video features the band dressed as the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz
who have lost their jobs as flying monkeys as a result of the evil witch's death. The video switches from scenes of the band playing together in a small room to individual band members begging and doing street jobs. The video is shot entirely in sepia until an explosive instrumental break-out in which vibrant colours are used for the remainder of the video.
On May 17, 2007, the band shot a video for their final single from Kezia, "The Divine Suicide of K". It features a more gothic setting where the members of the group sing in an imaginary bar for female vampires.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Protest the Hero
Protest the Hero
Protest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band line-up has remained the same since their formation in 1999. The band changed their name to Protest the Hero shortly before releasing their debut EP, Search for the Truth, in 2002...
. It is considered a concept album.
Overview
Production began in late 2004 overseen by Julius "Juice" Butty as their producer-in-chief (known for his work on Alexisonfire'sAlexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
gold-selling album Watch Out!
Watch Out!
Watch Out! is the second album released by the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. It was released on June 29, 2004. The album debuted at #6 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 6,000 copies in its first week...
). After mounting anticipation from fans, Kezia was released in Canada on August 30, 2005 selling 500 copies in the first week and went on to sell more than 5000 copies in the next 2–3 weeks, not including off-stage sales at the several release parties and shows the band played the week of release. The American release on April 4, 2006 debuted with an online contest where the first one hundred album purchases were rewarded with an additional album - A Calculated Use of Sound
A Calculated Use of Sound
A Calculated Use of Sound is an EP released by Protest the Hero in 2003. It was later re-released in 2004 with re-mastered tracks, a remade cover with a black color scheme, and an additional song titled "Soft Targets Make Softer Graves"....
, the 2004 reissue.
Kezia is a concept album, described by the band members as a "situationist requiem". The lyrics tell the story of a woman named Kezia and her execution by firing squad. The story is chronicled in the perspective of three characters: the priest who presides over her execution, one of the prison guards who is to kill her, and Kezia herself. Each character is designated a section containing three songs, with a single retrospective finale concluding the album. According to the band, each of the three characters represent an aspect of the band members themselves.
Reception
The album achieved universal acclaim with many reviewers praising the album for its technicality and Walker's vocal range. Corey Apar of Allmusic states: "Sounding as if maximum emotion were packed into every second possible, each note of Kezia bleeds urgent passion — from the searing vocals of Rody Walker to blistering guitar leads to acoustic midsong breaks to compelling harmonies and growls alike." Furthermore, Kezia received a nomination from Toronto based radio station 102.1 the edgeCFNY-FM
CFNY-FM, promoted under the branding 102.1 The Edge, is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 102.1 FM. The station rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s due to its freestyle DJing format and unique choice to play alternative music...
for their 2005 CASBY Awards for Favorite New Indie Release, and received a glowing review in Time Canada magazine.
The song "Bury the Hatchet" is available for download on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version of Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
. "Divinity Within" is also featured on the soundtrack to NHL 07
NHL 07
NHL 07 is an ice hockey video game. It was released on September 12, 2006, the successor to NHL 06. The game improved the series' gameplay with more realistic features, such as stickhandling and a wider variety of controller schemes...
.
Videos
Protest the HeroProtest the Hero
Protest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band line-up has remained the same since their formation in 1999. The band changed their name to Protest the Hero shortly before releasing their debut EP, Search for the Truth, in 2002...
's second music video, for the song "Blindfolds Aside", was released in November 2005. The video features Protest the Hero as both condemned victims and executioners. The condemned are wearing blindfolds for the majority of the video and playing their instruments whereas the executioners are dressed as soldiers. The video contains the song shortened by 35 seconds, removing some instrumental sections that appear on the album version. "Blindfolds Aside" receives light rotation on the music television station Much Music, but greater exposure on the brother channel Much Loud. The video was filmed in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
The band filmed their third video for the song "Heretics and Killers" in mid-February 2006. It was released in April 2006. The video features the band dressed as the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
who have lost their jobs as flying monkeys as a result of the evil witch's death. The video switches from scenes of the band playing together in a small room to individual band members begging and doing street jobs. The video is shot entirely in sepia until an explosive instrumental break-out in which vibrant colours are used for the remainder of the video.
On May 17, 2007, the band shot a video for their final single from Kezia, "The Divine Suicide of K". It features a more gothic setting where the members of the group sing in an imaginary bar for female vampires.
Track listing
Band members
- Rody Walker — vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Tim Millar — guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Moe Carlson — drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Luke Hoskin — guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, backing vocals - Arif Mirabdolbaghi - bassBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, backing vocals
Other personnel
- Jadea KellyJadea KellyJadea Kelly is a folk musician from Whitby, Ontario, Canada. She has released two LPs and two EPs to date. Kelly's 2008 full-length album, Sounds of Spring, produced by Ross Hayes Citrullo, was honoured with the "best country" award at the 2008 Toronto Independent Music Awards.Kelly was given...
— vocals - Paul Distefano — vocals
- Julius ButtyJulius ButtyJulius "Juice" Butty is a Canadian record producer. He was a 2007 nominee for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award.- Producer credits :* Kristin Nicholls Band* Alexisonfire* The Gorgeous* Sleeper Set Sail...
— production, recording, mixing, additional vocals - London SpicolukMark SpicolukMark Spicoluk founded and played bass for the band Closet Monster from 1997 until December 8, 2005. Closet Monster reunited to play Wakestock on August 8, 2009. Spicoluk established the indie punk rock label Underground Operations in 1995.During his period with Closet Monster, Spicoluk played for...
— vocals, executive production - Lucas Venditti - Vocals
- Marco Bressette — additional guitars and string arrangements
- Joao Carvalho — mastering
- Garnet Armstrong — art direction and design
- Ivan Otis — photography