Genuine surprises are increasingly rare in music. Yet here stand House of Protection, a duo who emerged just twelve months ago with the audacity to reimagine what heavy music could be and the talent to pull it off. Like an expertly handled heist film, their rise has been equal parts meticulous planning and explosive execution, each move calculated yet thrilling.

The partnership between Stephen Harrison and Aric Improta reads like a punk supergroup origin story written by someone with impeccable taste. Their collective resume - spanning Fever 333, The Chariot and Night Verses - hints at their capabilities but barely scratches the surface of what they've unleashed together.

As they drop their second EP, 'Outrun You All', the pace hasn't slowed. When we catch up with Aric, he's juggling enough creative projects to fill a small studio. "I'm working on the live show projections for tomorrow, rehearsing in 4 hours, finishing a hand-painted drum for someone coming to the show and then carving some time out late at night to start editing our new music video," he shares, the enthusiasm evident.

This relentless creative drive characterises everything about House of Protection's approach. Like master craftsmen who've discovered the joy of demolition, they're simultaneously building and destroying preconceptions about what a heavy music duo can achieve.

This whirlwind of activity has become their new normal. Reflecting on their first year, Aric explains: "It's been unbelievable. Honestly, I've never had to learn so much in such a short span of time. It's been equal parts exciting as it has been exhausting, but the incredible support we've received in the last 12 months has made it all worth it."

That support has manifested in sold-out shows at venues like The Echo in LA and The Underworld in London, over 10 million global streams, and upcoming festival appearances at Download and Reading & Leeds.

The creative evolution has been equally dramatic. "It's definitely expanded," Aric notes when discussing their vision. "First off, Jordan [Fish, producer] helping us realise the full potential of our voices… that's had a major impact on how we view the project. I also think the range in music that we attempted was a huge learning experience, and especially how that translates live. Trying to find that balance between constantly challenging yourself and at the same time having fun in the process. We definitely crammed too many things into a single year, and although I'm glad we survived it, I don't think we could pull it off again."

The new EP 'Outrun You All' represents both evolution and ambition. Created in an intense 20-day session at Jordan's home studio in Newbury - right after Improta had finished a European run supporting Tool with Night Verses - the record pushes their sound into darker, more nuanced territory while maintaining their signature explosive energy.

"We had demos for 'Afterlife' and 'Fire', but weren't sure if they were going to make it based off of the state they were in," Aric explains. "But we always go in open-minded. Jordan is such a creative force, and his perspective is very different than ours. We like a lot of the same things, but I feel like our starting points for songwriting are very different."

This creative tension has proved fertile ground. "I'd say 'I Need More Than This' is a good example of a song that I don't think any of us would've written with a different collaborator. So it's awesome to see how he can affect things when we all come in open-minded."

'Afterlife', it turned out, was a particularly crucial track for the EP. "I feel like establishing the opening track is always really important," Aric reflects. "It feels like the thesis for the record, and at the same time, you want something that's not too predictable. Once we knew 'Afterlife' was the first full song, then the rest sorted itself out."

As summer festival season approaches, House of Protection face new challenges. "Honestly, at this stage, trying to get a long enough set haha. We have two EPs, so we are stretched pretty thin on what we can pull off," Aric admits. "It's also fun to add jams and extended heavy moments to get away from the album version and make things feel more spontaneous and alive."

Between the festivals, the band isn't slowing down. "Aside from summer festivals, we'll start demoing more and hopefully get a live studio session in at some point," Aric shares. "I'm taking all of July off to hang with my family. But other than that, it'll be pretty nonstop."

When asked about rising acts he's excited about, Improta's taste reveals both his roots and his forward-thinking perspective: "I just saw Fleshwater open for Deftones, and they sounded awesome. I'm hoping they get a ton more recognition. Same with Loathe, Vowws and High Vis. Also, I know they are already doing well, but Fontaines D.C. put out my favourite record last year. I hope they take over the world. They deserve it."