Protagonist – The Chronicle

Quite frankly, I’m surprised there’s not a lot more fuss about Protagonist. Maybe it’s just that enough people haven’t heard the Floridian five piece yet, because once they do I’m sure people will talk about them non-stop.

After all, their debut Paper + Plastick Records release, The Chronicle, is more than worthy of praise and recognition and should have made it on to many year end lists last year; I know it would have made mine had I heard it earlier.

A mixture of melodic hardcore meets pop-punk, The Chronicle is part Strike Anywhere and part Set Your Goals just with a slightly stronger leaning towards the former than the latter. The vocals are raw and powerful, channelling Thomas Barnett without quite as much anger. The guitars are punchy and fast while the drums come barrelling in, kicking up a storm; and it’s all tied together through a mixing job that sounds as if it could have been done in the famed Blasting Room by Jason Livermore.

The gang vocals once again bring up Strike Anywhere similarities and get you to throw your fist in the air as you sing along with them. It creates a sound that would fit nicely in a sweaty skate park, surrounded by friends singing in unison. From the blistering opening track, Play Hard Play Fast Play Together that segues perfectly into Stargazes, to the intelligent love song 1095 Days (with lyrics that would make Craig Finn proud), to the Ignite/Good Riddance sounding We Move Ahead, The Chronicle constantly recalls some of the best melodic hardcore acts around. The only odd song in the mix is the street-punk song From Florida To Philadelphia which sounds like Left Alone but even that somehow works nicely in the mix.

If I had heard this one month ago, you can bet that The Chronicle would have been in my 2009 year end list. I’ve never heard someone come as close to singing like Barnett as vocalist Peter Marullo does here, but he also expands his delivery when necessary to help keep it fresh all the way through. This is melodic hardcore at it’s best and while Iron Fist was still a better release, The Chronicle is definitely deserving of some accolades.