Posted: November 8th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick
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Purchase @ iTunes Release Date: July 29, 2008 |
| Prosevere is: Gary Segars (Vocals) Eric Ashe (Guitar) Matt Riley (Bass) Rocky Griggs (Drums) |
Overview: Prosevere is the latest rock sensation out of Tennessee, Memphis to be exact. The band came together from the ashes of several Memphis-based acts that had come before them. Prosevere gathered all their best ideas and hit the studio with producers Johnathan Treeby and Kyle Segars, the latter kin-up with band frontman and fellow co-producer Gary Segars. The finished product is an EP called ‘Versus‘, which saw daylight for the first time on July 29, 2008. Check the band’s MySpace for information on how to purchase ‘Versus‘, as well as their upcoming shows spanning a greater part of the Southeast.
The Good: I’ve eaten up a lot of the rock which Tennessee has spawned in recent time, but I was crossing my fingers that Prosevere would deliver something refreshing, something different from the typical modern/alt.-rock sound of the majority of the bands from this Tennessee rock flux. Luckily, the band delivers on ‘Versus‘. “Shots” is a 90 proof bar brawl chockfull of visceral energy and commanding guitar chugs that relies on a chunky groove and the inviting pipes of Gary Segars to bring order to the fracas. “Feelin’ This”, equal amounts spry and propulsive, storms to the finish line, buoyed by the macho, thunderous riffage of guitarist Eric Ashe. On multiple occasions, his guitar work becomes titanic and enveloping, similar to something along the lines of Decyfer Down. Senor Segars lets ‘er rip for the first time on the intrepid and rather bold “The Question”, his blistering screams coinciding with the rest of the song’s dynamics with perfect fluidity. Ironically switching poles, it is the delicate choruses of “The Question” that do it justice, emanating both professionalism and progressive tendencies. “Sleepless” is certainly in no need of shut-eye, where charging, muscular verses pair perfectly with mountainous choruses; the sound of clean guitar strumming is thrust to the forefront of the chorus, loading it up with extra depth. Prosevere gather ’round the campfire for the acoustic ballad “Believing”, an impassioned and soulful number which you will find is easy to connect with after only an immediate listen. Quirky and feisty, “Versus” peppers its peachy canvas with a bevy of one-off hooks, engaging you at every turn. Drummer Rocky Griggs unleashes a double bass onslaught that, surprisingly, helps to emboss “Versus” instead of trampling it. “Harder Than Before” might be the most mature track on ‘Versus‘, rolling out an tinerary of playful, almost poppy verses and majestic pre’s to warm you up before the floodgates of the chorus open, gushing out sizzling guitars and a sinister attitude. Well implemented and very well delivered, “Harder Than Before” shows a steady growth in maturity from the start of ‘Versus‘ to here by Prosevere. The EP signs off with “Ransom” and the band make sure their demands are heard. Although militant and cutthroat at its core, “Ransom” rides an animated flow which provides some character to the song. Big G’s screams make a raging comeback, this time in the form of guttural growls, proving his versatility. Prosevere save their big kaboom for the end with “Ransom”, and it pays off.
The Bad: “Shots” and “Feelin’ This” make it through unscathed, however the remaining six aren’t so lucky. On “The Question”, Matt Riley, who is certainly a solid bass performer, overpowers a bulk of the song, hindering its dynamics and drowning out the rest of the band. “Sleepless” sounds to me like it’s stuck in between being forceful and driving or being glossy and hook-laden; regardless to which direction you feel the song sways, its identity crisis is audible. I was surprised to hear Prosevere strip down for “Believing”. And while I commend the band for stepping outside the box, it just doesn’t cut the mustard. Gary Segars’ voice never quite syncs up with the acoustic guitars, and in all honesty, I feel certain that “Believing” would sound fifty times better backed by a full band. “Versus” is a high point for drummer Rocky Griggs on the disc, but at the 2:19 mark he overshoots a fill by a beat or two, doing slight damage to the transition that follows. The big solo on “Harder Than Before” is, tragically, useless, attributed mostly to the fact that, like the solo itself, everything sounds gossamer during this point in the song. Finally, I don’t have any real gripes about “Ransom”, but it did make something clear to me. “Ransom” is Prosevere being as ballsy as they can be and it really works for them. Perhaps the band are best suited for a more brutal, thrashy future.
Bottomline: Prosevere cover a lot of ground on ‘Versus‘. Never before have I heard a band so young tackle so many different avenues of rock without ever really losing focus, or steam for that matter. Therein lies the catch 22 for Prosevere. Because they have such a firm handle on a litany of styles, I hope they are able to discern which formats actually suit them best. If Prosevere can do that, their future offerings will be behemoths. Still, there is plenty to enjoy on ‘Versus‘. And although Prosevere sometimes suffer a few growing pains in the process, the band’s music is able to satisfy a broad range of tastes, while proving there is plenty of room left for growth.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
