EP REVIEW: House of Protection – Outrun You All

‘…a loud, unapologetic, and compelling collection of tracks from a duo that have ceaselessly worked to be where they are…’

When artists that have existed in previous bands come together to form a separate project, it can often be difficult to dissociate those artists from those former projects. For House of Protection, that that feels like something that they leaned into in a cathartic manner for their debut EP, ‘GALORE‘, which dropped last year to rapturous applause. The duo of Stephen Harrison and Aric Improta crafted a record that saw them taking metal and fusing it with rap, DnB, dubstep, house, and punk in a glorious exercise in creativity; it felt like the outpouring of two musicians whom had spent far too long working within the expectation of others.

Now with sold-out shows both sides of the Atlantic completed and a guest appearance on the latest Architects record under their belts, this month has seen the band release their second EP, ‘Outrun You All‘. Once more featuring production work from the legendary Jordan Fish, this is another explosive collection of genre-bending alternative bangers, but this time delivered with a clearer vision and focus.

Lead single ‘Afterlife‘ is a swaggering chunk of arena-sized alternative rock, buoyed by mammoth, lurching percussion, and decorated with glitching electronic noise. It undeniably feels very Bring Me The Horizon in nature, although is far from a rip-off; one might even say it does BMTH better than BMTH. ‘Godspeed‘ is undoubtedly the highlight of the EP, surging forwards with a ferocious danceable energy; it invites both the raver and the mosher to meet on the floor, and to get moving as thought the world is about to end. The bridge is composed of pure electricity, with the percussion galloping forwards at a killer pace that drags the listener along with it.

‘I Need More Than This’ does sound a little too close to being a Linkin Park tribute at times, albeit a very good one. The bright synth hook layered atop of the otherwise moody instrumental during the choruses feels like it might have fit on ‘A Thousand Suns’. The track also packs a surprisingly impressive vocal performance, with genuinely rich and compelling melodies delivered with a fierce desperation.

‘Fire’ is a brilliantly catchy number, with a certain 2010 charm about it; the lyrics are over-the-top but never to the point of silliness, and the cheerleading styled vocals during the bridge are guaranteed to get you pumped. On ‘Phasing Out‘, DnB styled percussion pulses away beneath luscious yet melancholic synths melodies, with distorted vocals almost acting as simply another layer to the instrumental.

However, if any track could be considered a weak link on the EP, then that unfortunately would be the closing number ‘Slide Away’. Whilst by no means a bad track (something that House of Protection seem unable to create), it simply seems to lack the intensity and ferocity that the rest of the EP possesses. Furthermore, it doesn’t serve the EP well as a conclusive closing statement, unlike ‘Better Off‘ on their previous effort.

Whilst ‘Outrun You All‘ is less creatively explosive as ‘GALORE‘, what is here feels far more polished, and far more focused; this is the sound of House of Protection knowing exactly what they want to achieve, and executing that goal with undeniable style. It’s a loud, unapologetic, and compelling collection of tracks from a duo that have ceaselessly worked to be where they are, and solidifies their reputation as one of the most exciting upcoming acts in the alternative space.

RATING: 85/100 – Mostly Excellent

For Fans Of: Linkin Park, Pendulum, Bring Me The Horizon, Sleep Token, Ocean Grove

Physical copies are available to purchase here.

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify