Conor Fynes 'Volatile' - A Hero A Fake (1/10)

I am left speechless. Generally, I consider the label of 'progressive tech metal' to have a hint of greatness behind it, and a hopeful sign that whatever music that bears it will be intelligent and challenging in nature. For once, I am wrong.

This isn't to say that A Hero A Fake is completely unprogressive... After all, this band shares the same producer as Between The Buried And Me, which (despite not being completely attuned to my taste) are an incredibly progressive band.

However, I cannot see A Hero A Fake really appealing too much to a prog audience. Let me explain, through the means of a lovely anecdote from my life.

I was talking on the phone to a fellow prog-friend of mine (pretentious as all hell) and in the process of a discussion about various progressive metal, he tells me to wait, while he goes to go find something I'll apparently 'get a kick out of.' He comes back and tells me he has found a CD sampler that came with one of the metal records he had lately bought. Laughing while reading the label/description, the band on the two song sampler was apparently a 'meld of the technical virtuosity of Between The Buried And Me, blended with the intelligence and ferocity of Opeth.' Obviously, my interest was immediately sparked. With a curt chuckle, my friend put the CD in his stereo and held the phone up to the speakers...

...what came out was nothing short of comedy.

I listened to the entire EP over the phone, laughing almost non-stop. Not that this was the absolute worst thing I had listened to in my life, but the fact alone that it had been officially likened to two very reputable extreme prog metal bands was nothing short of farce. One song on the sampler essentially revolves around the band member's fathers apparently being F16 pilots... The song climaxes when all instruments stop and a prepubescent- sounding voice rings throughout the speakers 'my dad is an F16 pilot.' I could not listen to more...

...or so I thought.

I decided to look some of the other songs on the album up online, simply for the sake of their humourous effect. Everything about the band screams 'moneymaker.' Even the band's image (which isn't usually important, but a factor nontheless) likens them to a typical 'teenage scene' band that I'm sure your everyday hardcore kid will like, but as far as prog goes, (unless you hold high regards to musical comedy) please steer clear of A Hero A Fake.