[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/57246728[/vimeo]
After years of being on labels, Protest The Hero has announced that they will be self-releasing the follow up to 2011’s Scurrilous. However, the Canadian prog metal group knows that recording an album without label funding isn’t cheap (unless you’re Metallica). That’s why Protest The Hero has launched a campaign via Indiegogo, asking fans to donate money to help them record a new album.
Protest The Hero issued the following explanation on their Indiegogo page:
“Can you believe that we’ve been a band for 13 years and counting? We’ve finally decided to take matters into our own hands and want to raise money for the album directly from the people who have helped keep this band going all these years. In this time, we’ve release 3 full length albums, a live DVD/CD, as well as an EP and a 7 inch. We’ve toured all over the world (but still wanting to check off more destinations and visit more places) and pretty much lived and breathed this band as long as we’ve been in existence.
We are finally free from all obligations and want to be in control of our “careers”. In general, the record industry is backwards and we’d be stupid to renegotiate with anyone at this time. Crowdfunding seems to be something that’s working. Whether or not this is the next thing for the music industry, it’s a way that supporters of a band can know exactly where their hard earned dollars are going. No middlemen, no commissions, no bullshit.
Over the last couple months, we kept our ears to the ground, watched other people use this method and actually succeed. There have been many different approaches and fans of music are starting to understand this format, but it’s lacking something. Bands and artists don’t show you how the money gets spent. We however, will account to you to show you how every penny is spent and prove that making a top notch record comes at a price. Who knows, if we exceed our goal we will be able to do things we may have only dreamed about. Essentially, the success of this campaign will determine how amazing this record will become. We are set up for Flex Funding which means if we don’t reach our goal, we are still getting the money that is raised. So, if we don’t reach our goal, we will have to reevaluate how we are planning to do this record. Regardless, we are ready to deliver this thing however our campaign plays out.”
In case you still weren’t convinced, though, the band also created a hysterical video (as seen above) explaining why they need the money and what they promise to do with it. Like many online pledge campaigns, Protest The Hero are offering many different packages that fans can choose to purchase. But if you’re willing to spend a hefty amount of cash, then you might be able to purchase “perks” like a pizza party at guitarist Tim Millar’s house or the chance to hear singer Rody Walker cover the song of your choice.
Protest The Hero’s goal is to raise $125,000, though as of now they’ve already raised over $110,000 (and counting). Sure, many bands have launched similar campaigns before (as they themselves mentioned). But Protest The Hero is definitely one of the more well-known bands to use online sources to finance an entire album. Plus, considering that Scurrilous was one of our favorite albums of 2011, they pretty much had us sold at “New Protest The Hero Album.”
So go ahead and donate to Protest The Hero’s recording fund over at Indiegogo. And in case you still need convincing, watch Protest The Hero’s “pleading” video above (at the very least, you’ll get a good chuckle and you’ll hear a snippet of new material).
UPDATE: Within less than 24 hours, Protest The Hero has passed their goal (having raised over $144,000 and counting). With 29 days left, the band will continue with the campaign and will come up with new “perks.”
