Proven
Brute-force breakdowns and focused, rhythmic attack blend with crushing vocals and snap-neck speed to create a sound reminiscent of such early '90s Metal/Hardcore bands as Biohazard, Pantera and Machine Head. Elements of modern underground legends Throwdown and Soilwork can also be heard throughout.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
August of 2005 saw the arrival of Proven, when Randy Ross, Marc Halverson and Sam Boggess made a pact to do whatever it took to give hardcore metal back the respect that had been stripped from it by all the recent crossover bands populating the industry. Proven started churning out brutal hook laden riffs that mixed the ferocity of Pantera, Biohazard, Soilwork and early '80s Thrash, pummeling the Pacific Northwest with their unique style of brute force metal.
Old friendships were rekindled when Marc contacted Billy Graziadei of the legendary New York hardcore metal group Biohazard, and asked him to produce Proven's first studio album. Billy was so impressed with the demo that he asked Proven to fly out to New Jersey to record their debut EP at his Underground Sound Studios, co-owned by Danny Schuler (Biohazard/Bloodclot) and Mike Turner (Vulture).
The album was completed in only four days of tracking, with drums being laid down in one eight hour session by former Proven drummer John Gagne, who had relocated to the East Coast several months earlier.
Not long after the release in May of 2006, Proven began receiving regular rotation on 101.5 KFLY's Sunday night heavy music program, as well as obtaining features on XM radio and college radio across the nation, and have distributed over 1100 copies of the album to date, without any label assistance.
The five song EP deals with self respect, brotherhood and overcoming hardships and has received stellar reviews, garnering worldwide attention from noted heavy music journal MetalIsrael.com, as well as shining stateside reviews that have gone so far as to mention that the fate of hardcore metal lay in Proven's hands.
Proven has shared the stage with national acts such as Sworn Enemy, Full Blown Chaos, Scars of Tomorrow and Nights Like These among many others.
In February of 2007, Billy Graziadei boarded a plane bound for Portland Oregon to record Proven's second album Truth Reign Supreme, at Jackpot Recording Studios.
With this new release the band hopes to achieve new levels of success, they intend to tour the world and infect the masses with their brand of metal brutality.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We live for playing live.
When the crowd starts moving and going nuts to the music, there is a bond forged that can't be broken or replicated elsewhere.
We give each show our best, and respect the people out in the pit throwing down as hard as they can.
Your musical influences
Pantera, Biohazard, Sepultura, Cro-Mags, Assjack, In Flames, Corrosion of Conformity, Throwdown, Soilwork.
What equipment do you use?
We use Pearl Drums, ESP Guitars, Audix Microphones, and various amps...
Anything else?
We believe that hard work and determination are the keys to being successful, regardless of what may stand in the way.
