Protest The Hero | All Hands (Official Audio)

NEW ALBUM 'PALIMPSEST' OUT NOW
PURCHASE/STREAM: LINKTR.EE/PROTESTTHEHERO
_________
ALL MUSIC BY PROTEST THE HERO
Rody Walker - Vocals
Luke Hoskin - Guitars
Tim MacMillar - Guitars
Mike Ieradi - Drums
Special Guest: Cameron McLellan - Bass
Orchestral Arrangement / Production - Milen Petzelt-Sorace
PRODUCED BY: Derya Nagle
VOCAL PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING: Anthony Kalabretta
DRUM PRODUCTION, ENGINEERING AND EDITING: Dean Hadjichristou
ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING AND EDITING: Darren “Jeter” Magierowski & Jill Zimmerman
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION AND MIXING: Simon Grove
MASTERING: Ermin Hamidovic
ARTWORK: Martin Wittfooth
VIDEO EDITING: Wyatt Clough
_________
The cold finally broke this morning
It’s quiet on the dock
The sun feels so close and warming
The air is heavy
I’m dreaming of a life I can’t afford
The ground starts to tremble beneath my feet
Feels like my train is coming in
I can hear it screaming in the distance
My train is coming in
Eyes cast towards the heavens
They can tell my train is coming in
All hands, all hands, all hands
My train is coming in
I’m standing here in disbelief
Like how in the hell is this happening to me?
But I’m holding onto this one relief
When my train comes in and crashes into me
It was over my head
Like the sunshine
That it rose up to eclipse
Maybe it’s just in my head
Or maybe the sunshine
Never did exist
Sweet taste of death in my mouth
Brings quiet to all of my doubts
Come rushing toward me, black wave
The train that never did come early anyway
(All hands, all hands, all hands)
And it never is delayed
(My train’s about to come in)
Come rushing toward me, black wave
The train that never did come early anyway
And it never is delayed
I’m dreaming of a life I can’t afford
I’m dreaming of a life I can’t afford
The ground starts to tremble beneath my feet
Seems like my train is coming in
I can hear it screaming in the distance
My train is coming in
Eyes cast towards the heavens
They can tell my train is coming in
All hands, all hands, all hands
My train is coming in
I’m standing here in disbelief
Like how in the hell is this happening to me?
Is this happening to me?
But I’m holding onto this one relief
When my train comes in and crashes into me
It crashes into me
And In the aftermath
I’m just a struggling mass
Painted black
Just as everything that was left out on the tracks
And those who pass me by cannot decide
Whether I’m animal or human
Animal or human
Under the black mass

[@ericschroeder2951]

I always thought this song was about someone at a low point, intoxicated, stumbling along train tracks late at night hoping to be struck as they hear and feel a train coming in the distance. And then being struck. Passers by not knowing if the big mess is a person or an animal. Maybe I just think that after all the nights I spent walking tracks with headphones on hoping that might happen to me. Don't worry, I'm doing better now

[@NastyCrab]

Always loved Protest the Hero but there's essentially zero doubt in my mind this is the best song they've ever written. Incredible.

[@slughonkshoomi]

Love how this doubles as both a universal and meaningful commentary on how life constantly gives you shit...and a retelling of the Great Molasses Flood.

[@sprth-bc2ne]

i hope they do a 5 year anniversay tour of this album, idk if theyll make it to ten years D:

[@pthofficial]

You don't think we can last another 6 years? :)

[@sprth-bc2ne]

​@@pthofficialya know, it was wrong of me to project my own chronic fatigue on you all. If y'all are there for it I most certainly will be as well ⚔️

[@arnezargarian4583]

This imo is the best track on the album. It's so well done and so triumphant with a completely different message. The composition is so damn perfect too.

[@milesmungo]

This song is still getting better each time I listen to it... wow and thank you.

[@Peter07Pal]

Came here to listen to this on the day of the great molasses flood

[@satcar7304]

The ending gives me chills.

[@caseypayne5138]

say WHAT A metal band where the bassist actually gets a prominent spot in the mix?! Well looks like I'm a fan now

[@GreenFlame16]

Where have you been

[@uptospeed8086]

If you make it through the discography youre gonna be pleasantly surprised. Lots of bass love from this band.

[@alisonkubiak8912]

HOLY f****CK!!!!! this song is AMAZING

[@Rafooky92]

It's always great to come back to some new Old school Protest the Hero... there's always delivery.

[@kriscollins2437]

No one ever said that hope would be so beautiful

[@feelinc.]

The part "im dreaming of a life i can't afford" shed my tears. I can deeply relate to that

[@turnsoonest]

Give me a tour boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your musical interpretation of tragic American history

[@destructoblog]

And today I learned about the Molassacre.

[@jck1794]

i did a project about it in elementary school and it's literally the only thing i can remember about elementary school lmao, it was just such an absurd disaster to learn about

[@MikeP2055]

Well I'll be damned. I never would have caught that. Thank you for mentioning it. I learned something new today, too

[@corey-m6y]

And I just learned what this song is about because of your comment. Thanks. Lots of history lessons in this album. I dig that

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

Sounds like quite a sticky situation

[@punked75]

Big same lmao

[@r2r322]

Why does each song of this album make me cry? Holy hell...

[@kevinblack6702]

Maybe you're a pu$$y

[@buckfuttler2877]

@@kevinblack6702 man, the internet sure has allowed assholes to be assholes without getting punched in the face like they would in real life.

[@thestranger1024]

"All Hands" The cold finally broke this morning It's quiet on the dock The sun feels so close and warming The air is heavy I'm dreaming of a life I can't afford The ground starts to tremble beneath my feet Feels like my train is coming in I can hear it screaming in the distance My train is coming in Eyes cast towards the heavens They can tell my train is coming in All hands, all hands, all hands My train is coming in I'm standing here in disbelief Like how in the hell is this happening to me? But I'm holding onto this one relief When my train comes in and crashes into me It was over my head Like the sunshine That it rose up to eclipse Maybe it's just in my head Or maybe the sunshine Never did exist Sweet taste of death in my mouth (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) Brings quiet to all my doubts (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!) Come rushing toward me, black wave The train that never did come early anyway (All hands, all hands, all hands) And it never is delayed (My train's about to come in) Come rushing toward me, black wave The train that never did come early anyway (All hands, all hands, all hands) And it never is delayed My train's about to come in Oh, it comes down on me Hot as the sun Oh Smooth, like the rhythm of the Tommy gun I'm dreaming of a life I can't afford I'm dreaming of a life I can't afford The ground starts to tremble beneath my feet Feels like my train is coming in I can hear it screaming in the distance My train is coming in Eyes cast towards the heavens They can tell my train is coming in All hands, all hands, all hands My train is coming in I'm standing here in disbelief Like how in the hell is this happening to me? Is this happening to me? But I'm holding onto this one relief When my train comes in and crashes into me It crashes into me And in the aftermath I'm just a struggling mass painted black Just as everything that was stuck out on the tracks And those who pass me by cannot decide Whether I'm animal or human Animal or human under the black mass

[@sharonnieves6597]

I know this song has its own meaning yet I can't help but think about my own mortality every time I play this track. A year ago my father caught stage 4 tongue cancer, knowing that cancer runs in both sides of my family I have always wondered when my train is coming in. That lyric "Sweet taste of death in my mouth brings quite to all my doubt" makes me think about my father and gets me emotional every time. Protest the hero is the greatest band in universe, this ain't up for debate.

[@buckfuttler2877]

great thing about a lot of PTH songs is, they have a certain meaning, but the lyrics allow us as fans to form our own meaning for them. i like to listen, form my feelings for the song, then look up and see what they are REALLY about after a few months. its a cool contrast.

[@jck1794]

i find myself constantly looping the chorus at 3:31. The secondary guitar/synth melody in the back layered behind the primary vocal melody is just so damn fantastic together.

[@ByteRoster]

Tears are rolling down my face. The way you guys turn your intricate and heartfelt lyrics into hallucinations with a soundtrack is so fucking powerful! Therapy through emotion, an expression of understanding and a cathartic release of the thoughts which find their way up to the surface from the depths... Where would we we be without Protest the Hero! Where would I be without this endless font of power made real, this incredible expression of art? Your collective passion gives me energy, lights my soul aflame! What more can I say but thank you.

[@mikeanderson6169]

Imma definitely cry the whole set when they tour this album. Gardenias, Little Snakes, and Reverie get me the most.

[@dev4965]

@Wise Man no

[@awfullufwa]

@Wise Man And if I claim to be a wise man, well, it surely means that I don't know.

[@bertsimpsan]

Cringy soy golem

[@spencerjames8989]

Word

[@JustAvery63]

the outro on this song reall is something else

[@michellelee3379]

SMALL HANDS! SMALL HANDS! SMALL HANDS!

[@TimTheRockstarSkateboardKing]

Pth is amazing, i seen them twice. inspired me so much to play guitar that my whole discog of music through highschool was avenged sevenfold and pth. lol

[@Holktube]

"Sweet taste of death in my mouth brings quiet to all my doubt." That small section may be my favorite part of this whole album. The juxtaposition of the melody with the lyrics is a great mirror to the absurd horror that is being killed by a wave of molasses. They've really outdone themselves with this album.

[@Illlium]

IDK why, but the the lines that hit me the hardest are "the train that never did come early; and it never is delayed"

[@Slashbag69]

For me, it's "and in the aftermath I'm just a struggling mass, painted black, just as everything that was stuck out on the track, and those who pass me by cannot decide whether I'm animal or human under the black mass."

[@TheGuitarifier]

Best album since fortress. I can't explain it, but this album just mesmerizes me. Rody writing his own lyrics and vocal melodies is the best thing that's ever happened to this band.

[@daanhoes4652]

I kinda feel the same. Volition has been in my top-3 favourite albums of all time but everytime I hear a song off of Palimpsest again, I feel like it might get overthrown because this is just art in its finest form

[@blahthebiste7924]

Who used to write them?

[@nichan2475]

Best track off the album I've heard so far, it's a great outro part, as well.

[@alfanoza]

A hint of Coheed and Cambria ..... I liked it very much...

[@ivantelebar9129]

Really? :) In which part did you recognize it? Asking as a die hard Co&Ca fan.

[@alfanoza]

Mainly the voice style over the first minute or minute and a half. Mostly between in 0:30 and 1:00 .. and over the song here and there

[@quadlineboarder]

My favorite so far. The chorus is so uplifting. (musically, not lyrically)

[@BrandonGarcia-on2kp]

This song feels like a sequel to “C’est La Vie” lyrically.

[@zumokumibonsu4501]

Does that have anything to do with the mention of a train

[@BrandonGarcia-on2kp]

Zach Deleon definitely. Although, that may be completely coincidental. The song is about the Molassacre, apparently. The sound of the molasses flowing through the street was a “long rumble similar to the passing of an elevated train” according to Wikipedia. Rody’s lyrics are truly fascinating on this album.

[@zumokumibonsu4501]

Brandon Garcia haha, ya its fantastic! Such a great album with great lyrics

[@TheGuitarifier]

Because a train is mentioned.....? Lmfao the subject matter differs entirely

[@BrandonGarcia-on2kp]

Brendan McDonald considering that C’est La Vie is about the absurdity of life/death and the entire outro is about making a train run late. Then this song is about dying in an absurd way while daydreaming about a life you can’t afford, followed by the line “the train that never did come early anyway, and it never is delayed.” Really not all that different.

[@lucasharris5727]

Thanks guys! It is blisteringly beautiful.

[@goldenlarry]

The riff in the verse and the vocal pattern over it rules.

[@SqueebPlays]

If I've learned anything about Protest the Hero from listening to them for over 12 years...they songs about the ocean.

[@mrgotohell111111]

But I'm holding onto this one relief When my train comes in and crashes into me

[@shaneharrington3655]

Wow, possibly the best song they’ve ever written?

[@adamc3803]

For me it's Mist, just because it's about my home, I've seen every show they've played here, and I'm in the video lol. Next would be Skies but I really like Little Snakes on this one (scathing song). Every album is different so It's hard to not choose one from each haha.

[@blahthebiste7924]

I'm still a Blindfolds Aside guy. This one does have some tragic beauty to it though.

[@adamc3803]

@Deaddog67 Every album they make is very different than the other. That's why I love them. This one is more melodic in a lot of ways. It always won't be for everyone - depends on how diverse your taste is. The lyrics on this album are great. They've been tremendously better since Rody took over on Scurrilous.

[@Trystaticus]

i put this on and play some mega man x

[@michaelmakemore633]

dance magic dance!

[@Mariooo57]

Damn, when I reached that Harborside - All Hands stretch in the album, I couldn't stop screaming "Holy shit, this is the Protest The Hero I fell in love with" in my head. This is really one of the best songs they've ever written, and the album is their most instant since Fortress. What a band. Welcome back!

[@jeffreyferreira3811]

The section starting @2:25 is one the greatest things I've ever heard.

[@spencerjames8989]

Excellent song man

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

I wouldnt even be mad if they released an acoustic version of this. Its that fucking good.

[@krovvyyarbles]

Hell of a tune, lads.

[@krovvyyarbles]

agreed

[@andrewchristofil3368]

I would have been totally fine with no harsh vocals on this album, it's already so good. But I'd be lying to myself if I didn't scream a little when the growls hit at 2:49 after the instrumental breakdown.

[@milesmccollough5507]

Rody channeling his inner Amon Amarth with those growls. I make the stank face every time I hear that bit.

[@alexmurphy5289]

It makes them special in my opinion, almost every harsh singer eventually blew out his vocals. It sucks

[@LiesThatBind]

My favorite so far. So damn good.

[@Kytelngc]

Best song on the album!!

[@buckfuttler2877]

im about to see if this is true...From the Sky is gonna be HARD to top though....but lets see!....EDIT: GREAT song! buuuut, From the Sky still holding firm lol. im off to check out the rest of the album! haha

[@nathanielrambo3447]

Only 4 songs in so far, but so far I gotta agree!!!!

[@mattw6916]

Now for the tabs on sheethappens so I can practice this masterpiece

[@Kytelngc]

@@buckfuttler2877 Fair enough lol. All the songs are sounding great, for sure. As with all their albums, can listen front to back without skipping a track! But, man, this one right gives me chills. And Rivet.

[@articstorm007]

I agree that this is the best song on the album. Been on repeat for a while.

[@sheldon8691]

There's some hardcore Dream Theater vibes in this and that is very much a good thing.

[@ni1name]

This if F* brutal, amazing, outstanding! KEEP IT ON!

[@ericscher1983]

Seen them in Sacramento just after release of Violation. New bassist and drummer with a lackadaisical crowd, and still fucked shit up. True professionals and one of the more underrated bands in the past decade

[@buckfuttler2877]

Violation? You mean Volition?

[@ericscher1983]

@@buckfuttler2877 lol ya must have spelled wrong and it auto correct. My bad...

[@buckfuttler2877]

@@ericscher1983 just breakin balls lol. Figured it was autocorrect! Peace✌

[@failadin1]

Rody was busting backflips on stage back in the day when they opened for BTF down here in AZ. that show has stuck with me forever. seeing Kezia live was 12/10

[@SimoTmm]

01:42 - 02:00 is pure gold

[@mattw6916]

GIVE ME TOUR DATES BOYS I'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG TO SEE YOU ALL

[@brehuggins710]

@2:14-2:49 is just perfection

[@ospina317]

So fucking beautiful!!!!

[@captainmidnight364]

Dem gutturals! Rody's performance on this album is made even more incredible by the fact that he essentially had to re-learn how to do vocals.

[@JoseDlucca]

He damaged it his vocal chords??

[@alexmurphy5289]

Absolutely incredible

[@alexmurphy5289]

@@JoseDlucca He had surgery after he blew his voice. I saw them live on their EP tour in 2018 and Rody was definitely struggling live. I bet he will sound better next time I see them (covid though???)

[@CognitiveSlug]

@@alexmurphy5289 got his lows sounding like Matthew Tybor from The Bunny The Bear.

[@aaronfultz7797]

@@CognitiveSlug my first thought on first listen through!

[@brianschifferdecker509]

1919. Never forget the "Dark Wave"

[@TheCheese06z]

Isn't this song about the Boston molasses disaster

[@nathanielrambo3447]

I’m noticing an over arching narrative about technology, migration to the west, manifest destiny and the sort. Only 4 songs in so someone feel free to correct me. Hoping this is another concept album. Such a cool theme of Advancment to not just focus on the phone too. Love it so far. Edit: criticisms of American history. Duh. Love the album.

[@carlitotiburon9680]

There's a thread on reddit where each themes of each songs is linked to the wikipedia page regarding the events.

[@nathanielrambo3447]

Marc Arcand thanks dude!

[@joshuasalgado4694]

Marc Arcand can you send the reddit link?

[@joshuasalgado4694]

Maie-Mai-Marc-Arcand Magnotta thanks!

[@yomommamonkey]

Its very much about the faults of America and how we dont learn from them. It ends with the simple idea that America has never been great but we can be if we acknowledge our mistakes. And obviously from the name of the album we can tell that the whole idea is the way America covers there tracks in history.

[@enso8762]

TRAIN CAME AND CRASHED UNTO ME

[@guitarserenadior9399]

strong song

[@quadlineboarder]

One of my only criticisms of PTH guitar work is they don't do enough of 3:32. Just sit back on the chords and rock out

[@TemporalShrew]

It's weird - this album feels like it does that more than any of their previous records, but at the same time, the riffs in most of the verses feel like they're incorporating fewer/less aggressive chords than usual a good deal of the time, which leads to the guitar work on the album as a whole feeling a lot more noodly than you'd expect. (Not a bad thing, mind, but it dials back the heaviness of the material a little).

[@the_architect0164]

less is more? that section is one of my favorites of the album.

[@vicious5115]

after an interludio u know an amazing shit is coming.... D:

[@GreenFlame16]

Don't get it, did the person I the song get stuck and then hit by the train?

[@cameronkok5860]

Sounds like this could be a Propagandhi song. That is a very good thing. This rules.

[@carlitotiburon9680]

Not the biggest Propagandhi fan (as I don't know every songs of every albums) but I felt this whole album to be very Propagandhi-esque.

[@TemporalShrew]

I'd wager that's no coincidence, either, given that the band's on-record as being huge fans of Propagandhi.

[@Mariooo57]

@@carlitotiburon9680 Agreed. The opener especially, it felt like their most Propagandhi-esque song since... their pre-Kezia EPs?

[@cameronkok5860]

@@carlitotiburon9680 Check out their 3 most recent albums (Supporting Caste, Failed States & Victory Lap). You'll find some stuff to love for sure.

[@MikeP2055]

I'm listening to this because of a Propagandhi Instagram post about Todd playing on The Canary, and quite frankly, I'm enjoying it very much. Very much indeed.

[@ryanburnette23]

Who else has read the article from the Boston newspaper article that is the source for the line about being "animal or human under the black mass..."

[@ReaperKezia]

2:35 sounds like hair trigger.

[@trossbossinit]

Majorly!

[@flip499]

Protest the Hero Cures All

[@brandontadday6288]

And in the aftermath I'm just a struggling mass painted black Just as everything that was stuck out on the tracks And those who pass me by cannot decide Whether I'm animal or human Animal or human under the black mass...

[@indoorkiddo]

the lyrics in the outro are actually really depressing and dark

[@jck1794]

well being buried alive in a sludgy tsunami of molasses is pretty depressing and dark lol

[@axinator]

@@jck1794 :D

[@MrGilmargeddon]

Oi, Lothus 😁

[@Vdrum1010]

The audacity of Melon putting this song on the Worst Tracks section for this week

[@EskimoCreamKing]

Just came from there, genuinely in disbelief. The album is fucking mind boggling.

[@yomommamonkey]

did he really???? what a melon.

[@jck1794]

i have no clue who melon is but whoever it is sounds like they have no idea what they're talking about. This track is a masterpiece that just gets better and better with each listen.

[@EskimoCreamKing]

@@jck1794 it's Anthony fantano of the needle drop.

[@cameronkok5860]

@@EskimoCreamKing that guy's taste is mostly terrible except for his love of Jeff Rosenstock. Jeff rules.

[@Bradlyeon]

I want the guy from Sabaton History to go over this album track by track

[@Hadrondl]

At 0.5 speed it sounds kind of like Ripper Owens fronting a Gothen-doom band

[@nomeru_0]

damn these lyrics are kinda dark

[@macaron3141592653]

I'm not digging this nearly as much as Volition, but this album is still incredibly gorgeous.

[@blahthebiste7924]

It's damn hard to top Volition

[@alexmurphy5289]

I like this one better honestly

[@takayukiyamada7743]

Deaddog67 Fortress is top

[@blahthebiste7924]

​@Deaddog67 Fortress is great, but Volition just offers more, imo. Fortress is a set of songs in the same style, which contains a fair share of bangers. But Volition has more variety in the song style, while still feeling like a cohesive whole (Clarity being an incredible start to the album and Skies being the best album ending in existence does a lot to help this.) Mist feels nostalgic and elicits a strong sense of belonging and camaraderie. Underbite feels like a real meta confrontation about the band becoming what they hated. It's aggressive and climactic. I could go on. Fucking love that album.

[@tehawes0mesauce]

Should we be concerned about Rody? Because the lyrics here imply there's some ideation about suicide by train... Add that to C'est la Vie's lyrics and... Rody you okay? Edit NVM apparently this is about a historical event. Phew.

[@alxjones]

My first few listens I had a similar interpretation. I thought it might have been about getting stuck on the tracks instead of suicide though. Didn't catch the actually Molassacre interpretation until I read it in a comment here.

[@diegoromero9924]

I'm Expecting for some "The Fortress" Vibes :C

[@devinfulton6659]

Dream Theater vibes

[@nachobed]

Why is it an American ?

[@blahthebiste7924]

The picture? Maybe because the whole album is about events in American history?

[@nachobed]

@@blahthebiste7924 thanks for answering my question about the american FLAG*** next time dont sound so pretentious

[@blahthebiste7924]

@@nachobed Sorry if I was mean, the question just seemed very obvious to me.

[@rob8311]

yawn

[@axinator]

Why is that

[@MyBeautifulDarkTwistedFantasy6]

If I hadn’t looked this up, I would’ve thought this was the Mars Volta...