Whilst listening to this album I had to check them out on the internet as the album has such a regressed, almost first band feel to it. I was surprised to find that they have a history. I will mention first that the sound is very 80’s metal and the guitars being very trebly. The guitar sound reminds me of Accept from the Breaker era. The riffs are very typical and apart from a few that grab you because they point to what could and should have been.
I refer to the song “Holiday in Hell” from about 2.20 to 3.00 as an example before it goes back into being very ordinary again. The vocals are like a mixture of Mille Petrozza and Jeff Walker (Kreator/Carcass), but I just wish the songs were stronger. They all have a very similar feel which just seem to run into song after song, leaving the listener waiting for something special. This band can play and as I said before occasionally a riff or 2 will pop up making you think at last but sadly they do not seem to utilise these moments. “Road Rage” after the very mainstream intro is probably my favourite song on the album and I hope that the band have more songs like this on their earlier releases.
“Songs of Kain” with its promises of electric guitar and drums that shake the ground and metal tat reigns sadly doesn’t deliver. “Birth of a Nation” again starts with so much promise then falls flat on itself like so many times on this album. I guess there is a market out there for this band and I’m sure that they probably have an army of fans, but on this showing I won’t be joining Protector’s metal domain.
Meathook Mike, HMS
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