EP Review: House of Protection – Outrun You All
House of Protection may be one of the most prolific acts to come out over the past year. The duo, made up of Stephen Harrison (ex-FEVER 333, The Chariot) and Aric Improta (ex-FEVER 333, Night Verses), return with a second EP entitled Outrun You All that both refines and radically expands on the groundwork laid by last year’s GALORE.
While GALORE felt like a raw burst of energy – Outrun You All feels more like a more controlled and cohesive beast whilst still maintaining their genre colliding sonic chaos. With ex-Bring Me The Horizon producer Jordan Fish once again in their corner, the band have fine-tuned their melting pot of sounds — from rock, hardcore and metal to trap, trip-hop, EDM and beyond – HOP really aren’t afraid to try it all – and the result is something super fresh and addictive.
The EP opens with “524å§ł€€-°” (don’t ask us how to pronounce that!) – a brief, floaty ambient intro that acts as a calm before the storm. “Afterlife” then gets the party started with haunting melodies and gritty industrial textures. The lead single from the EP see’s Improta’s vocals add a new emotional dimension, contrasting Harrison’s spitfire delivery. You can hear Jordan Fish’s fingerprints here – in the structure, in the build – but it never feels like mimicry.
“Godspeed” is a stand out with it’s metal meets electro heart that see’s glitchy, electronic pulses underpin one of their most anthemic and catchy choruses yet. It’s a high-octane sonic barrage that hits with the confidence of a band that now fully knows what they want to achieve. “I Need More Than This” veers into unexpected territory, dreamy atmospherics and Massive Attack-inspired textures float through the verses before exploding into huge synth fuelled choruses that are destined to have many a crowd bouncing in the near future. “Fire”, meanwhile, throws it back to the chaos and attitude of GALORE, but with sharper production and a sense of intent. Prodigy-esque electronics collide with punked up guitars and beats before floaty melodies and synths enter the fray. “Hit ’em with fire” is not just a lyric, it’s a mission statement.
“Phasing Out” is a moment of calm – or at least, House of Protection’s version of calm. It’s spacious and hypnotic, yet wouldn’t feel out of place on an EDM playlist with shades of Pendulum when things pick up. It’s not a track designed to rip the room apart, but to breathe within it – a necessary comedown that highlights the duo’s emotional range. And then there’s “Slide Away”. A heavy bold closer that tries to marry every aspect of their sound in one. Hook wise it doesn’t immediately grab the ear like “Godspeed” or “Fire,” but the riffs and energy on display are truly undeniable. It’s a layered, experimental and a fitting final statement.
9/10 – Outrun You All is a declaration of intent, in a world of cookie cutter music and formulaic structuring, House Of Protection demonstrate they have no interest in retracing old paths; they are carving their own. It’s more dynamic, more emotionally complex, and more willing to take left turns. Some might miss the rawer DIY spark of their debut, but what they’ve gained in depth and direction more than makes up for it.
You can atch House Of Protection live on the following dates:
House of Protection 2025 UK live dates
May 24: The Roxy | Los Angeles, CA, USA
June 4: Caribana Festival | Vaud, Switzerland
June 6: Rock am Ring | Nürburg, Germany
June 8: Rock im Park | Nürnberg, Germany
June 10: Klub Stodoła | Warszawa, Poland
June 11: Rock For People | Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
June 12: Nova Rock | Nickelsdorf, Austria
June 15: Download Festival | Derby, United Kingdom
June 18: Dust | Brighton, United Kingdom
June 20: Graspop Metal Meeting | Dessel, Belgium
June 25: Resurrection Fest | Lugo, Spain
June 27: Jera On Air | Ysselsteyn, Netherlands
August 16: Cabaret Vert | Charleville-Mézières, France
August 23: Reading Festival | Reading, United Kingdom
August 25: Leeds Festival | Leeds, United Kingdom
Oct 1: Zenith | Munich, Germany+
Oct 3: Porsche Arena | Stuttgart, Germany+
Oct 4: Mitsubishi Electric Halle | Dusseldorf, Germany+
Oct 5: Festhalle | Frankfurt, Germany+
Oct 7: Ziggo Dome | Amsterdam, Netherlands+
Oct 8: Barclays Arena, Hamburg, Germany+
Oct 10: CO-OP LIVE | Manchester, United Kingdom+
Oct 11: Utilita Arena | Cardiff, United Kingdom+
Oct 12: The O2 | London, United Kingdom+
Jan 25-31: ShipRocked | Miami, FL
+Architects EU/UK Tour Support
