There are albums that one enjoys writing a review about because the music is appealing or because one knows the band. Then there are reviews that take time because one has to engage deeply with the music. These may sit for a few days and mature during that time.
Sometimes, however, there are releases that generally make it difficult for you.
This is the case with the album “Pétrole“ by the French hardcore band MR. PROTECTOR.
The band has been around since 2003. In addition to two EPs, the band has now released its first album with “Pétrole“. The long player features ten songs, two of which are sung in German, and they are quite special.
The lengths of the songs, some over five minutes (one song is even over 9 minutes!), already indicate the direction of the journey. Here, experimentation takes place, and sound collages are created. The songs are clearly assigned to post-hardcore in terms of intensity. The proximity to emo is clearly audible in many songs. There is screaming, singing, and speaking. In short, the full range of technical and emotional possibilities is showcased here.
The songs lean against catchy song structures. Breaks, tempo changes, dragging emo parts, sometimes almost session-like playing, and dark melodies—all of this is offered by the band.
MR. PROTECTOR is very experimental. In my view, this is very positive, as they are not aiming for mainstream success with their sound but are doing their own thing. It is not hardcore of the conventional kind. It is also not emo of the conventional kind. MR. PROTECTOR is avant-garde in what they do. One could describe the sound as avant-garde hardcore.
MR. PROTECTOR is only for connoisseurs, for people who appreciate this sound. It will never bring great success, but surely fans who wholeheartedly support this band from France, which has created something entirely its own, something special.
