Kezia

Kezia ( /kəˈzaɪ.ə/ kə-zy-ə) is the debut full-length release by the Canadian progressive metal band Protest the Hero. It is considered a concept album.

The album achieved universal acclaim with many reviewers praising the album for its technicality and Walker’s vocal range. Corey Apar of Allmusic states: “Sounding as if maximum emotion were packed into every second possible, each note of Kezia bleeds urgent passion — from the searing vocals of Rody Walker to blistering guitar leads to acoustic midsong breaks to compelling harmonies and growls alike. ” Furthermore, Kezia received a nomination from Toronto based radio station 102.1 the edge for their 2005 CASBY Awards for Favorite New Indie Release, and received a glowing review in Time Canada magazine.
The song “Bury The Hatchet” is available for download on the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. “Divinity Within” is also featured on the soundtrack to NHL 07.

Kezia is a concept album, described by the band members as a “situationist requiem”. The lyrics tell the story of a woman named Kezia and her execution by firing squad. The story is chronicled in the perspective of three characters: the priest who presides over her execution, one of the prison guards who is to kill her, and Kezia herself. Each character is designated a section containing three songs, with a single retrospective finale concluding the album. According to the band, each of the three characters represent an aspect of the band members themselves.

Part I: Prison Priest
1. “No Stars Over Bethlehem”
2. “Heretics & Killers”