| Scurrilous | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Protest the Hero | ||||
| Released | March 22, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | Late 2010 at Jukasa Studios, Ohsweken, Ontario | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal | |||
| Length | 44:18 | |||
| Label | Underground Operations | |||
| Producer | Julius Butty | |||
| Protest the Hero chronology | ||||
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Scurrilous is the third studio album by Canadian progressive metal band Protest the Hero. It was released on March 22, 2011 on Vagrant Records in the US and Underground Operations in Canada.[1] The word scurrilous is defined as "vulgar verbal abuse; foul-mouthed; coarse, vulgar, abusive, or slanderous."[2]
Contents |
Recording for Scurrilous began on August 30, 2010. Walker stated on his Twitter page on that day: "it has begun" [3] and also on his Facebook page on the 31st that "It is underway", both in reference to the band's next full length album recording.[4] During the recording process, Protest the Hero posted three studio updates showcasing bass, drums, guitar and vocals. The band has stated that the album will contain a more "progressive" sound compared to their last two albums.
In support of the album, Protest the Hero will embark on a North American tour, with a large number of dates in their native Canada, from March to May 2011.
The band released the first single "C'est La Vie" on February 3, 2011.[5]
The album cover is a picture of a 60-year-old painting by bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi's grandfather, Jafar Petgar, titled "Scurrilous".[6] The painting was inspired by a disagreement between Petgar and his wife that stemmed from "conjecture and scurrilous lies" being spread by a neighbor. The painting is meant to represent the world fleeing from the lies originating from the human tongue. According to Mirabdolbaghi, the piece was selected by Protest the Hero as the cover art for Scurrilous because they, "thought the wide and varied use of color in the piece reflected the contrasting sonic landscapes of the music on the album."[7]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [8] |
| Decibel | [9] |
| Sputnikmusic | [10] |
| MetalSucks.net | [11] |
| Heavy Blog Is Heavy | [12] |
| The Review Spider | [13] |
Critical reception for Scurrilous has generally been positive, with the album receiving four out of five stars from Allmusic, who lauded the band for its shift towards more personal lyrics.[8] Adam Thomas of Sputnikmusic found the album to be "a lot less jarring when compared to their past work, with the transitions between the light speed arpeggio runs, tight modern metal riffing, and mathy stop start sections seamlessly binding it all together."[10] However, Decibel magazine gave the album a five out of ten.[9]
All music by Protest The Hero
| Standard Edition | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "C'est la Vie" | Arif Mirabdolbaghi | 3:33 | ||||||
| 2. | "Hair-Trigger" | Rody Walker | 4:48 | ||||||
| 3. | "Tandem" | Walker | 5:12 | ||||||
| 4. | "Moonlight" | Mirabdolbaghi | 4:48 | ||||||
| 5. | "Tapestry" | Walker | 4:29 | ||||||
| 6. | "Dunsel" | Walker | 4:52 | ||||||
| 7. | "The Reign of Unending Terror" | Walker | 3:25 | ||||||
| 8. | "Termites" | Walker | 3:56 | ||||||
| 9. | "Tongue-Splitter" | Walker | 4:34 | ||||||
| 10. | "Sex Tapes" | Mirabdolbaghi | 4:41 | ||||||
| Japanese Edition | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length | ||||||
| 11. | "To Porter, With Love" | 4:47 | |||||||
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Protest the Hero[15]
Guest musicians[15]
Artwork and packaging[15]
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Production and recording[15]
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