PROV3RB5 - "What Dreams My Come" EP Review!!

It's now time for our 161st monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, as we're taking a look at local/Toronto progressive metal trio PROV3RB5's debut EP "What Dreams May Come"! Independently released to major streaming platforms on November 1st, this short digital-only EP features instrumental versions of their first three original songs, which were previously released online with vocals from ex-singer Josh Ratliff. In this form, PROV3RB5 are represented by guitarist Benjamin Roswell and Toronto-based bassist/drummer Bryan Lee (the songs were recorded before new drummer Phil Greco joined the band), while Kevin Xiong from the Minnesota metal band Stelliferous guests on the last song. As the versions with vocals never had an album release, I'll primarily review these as instrumentals, but I will make comparisons at the end. You can hear the EP for free on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer (all linked at this Distrokid page).

If you want to actually buy the mp3 files, "What Dreams May Come" is on sale for $2.97 on iTunes, and now on Bandcamp for $3, so keep those options in mind also! Featuring three songs (all close in length) running for 13 minutes, let's begin this review with the opening song, "Sea of Tranquility"! After a softer guitar opening, the well layered progressive technicality is on full display, with an effective staccato riff early and some solidly crushing djent riffs at the mid-point, but this song operates on multiple effective tracks and will satiate extreme metal and prog fans! The drums are too monotone during the guitar solo (itself a little short for my liking), but as a pure showcase of Ben & Bryan's talents, this is a good introduction to what PROV3RB5 are all about!

The middle song is "Treasure Forest", whose title is a better thematic match to the song than "Sea of Tranquility" was. I do find that the first song executed its melodies and layering better, but "Treasure Forest" does have heavier moments on average, and at points, it reminds me moreso of a video game level music. Benjamin's guitar work and time signature changes are worth the price of admission alone, and the percussion does flow better down the stretch. Maybe a little too much of the twinkly ethereal parts (including the outro), but genre fans should still be into this one! The closer has PROV3RB5 & guest Kevin Xiong playing "Particles", which doesn't stray from prior formulas despite the added guitarist. This one more alternates between heavy prog metal and softer, more ambient (but drum-heavy) bridges, so for headbanging purposes, it comes and goes. When it's on though, it's very much on, especially with Bryan's bass work!

The melodies are on point throughout "Particles", so this ends things on a solid note! As for comparing these songs to the versions with Josh's singing, this style of progressive metal doesn't stick to a traditional structure for composition, so the songs don't feel empty without vocals. That said, Josh is a capable harsh vocalist with clean singing and harmonizing abilities, and while the tone of his screaming isn't my favourite, the first melody you pick up on from these songs is definitely altered when you have him featured, so in a way, these songs are new experiences with Josh, or without if you heard them first. Listen to the versions with vocals on major streaming platforms!

Overall, PROV3RB5 will definitely be worth checking out for fans of progressive metal, especially given the subgenre's shelf life for other local bands! PROV3RB5 benefited from having an established profile in the online metal community before Benjamin ever started making a local push for the project, and he and Bryan are a strong pairing with high proficiency in their instruments! While not full bore heavy on the three songs (each has ebbs and flows into softer sections), their metal credibility is readily apparent, and there's nowhere to go but up, especially given their teasers of late! I will say that, with each song hovering around 4:31, they will blur together for many listeners, especially in this instrumental form, and some extra variance would help to make them stand out, such as longer/more substantive guitar solos or more of a relentless death metal influence on some songs.

The drums were also something that could be mildly distracting based on repetitive tracks and beats, especially in the second half of songs, and again, while the lack of vocals isn't a hindrance, their inclusion dramatically changes the songs' initial perception, so keep that in mind based on what you like out of your metal. PROV3RB5 are definitely on their way though, and hopefully this EP goes some way to giving them a true foothold in the local scene, but check it out for yourself above! I hope you guys liked this month's CD review, and look for our year-ending review of Chase Wigmore's "We Are All Going To Die" on the site next month! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Bone Yard), The Future Of Reggie's West, And PROV3RB5 Updates!!

For our first post of the month, we're diving into two topics that each kinda branch into some interesting subtopics, one being updates from a local original metal project, and the other being LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for the coming weeks! Here's what you should know!

Local southern hard rock trio Bone Yard have announced a batch of upcoming concerts taking place in the next month+ via this photo on their Facebook page earlier today, so what should know here? Not counting the Esquire Club dates and Toystock (which were already announced by the venue & organizers respectively), seven newly confirmed shows lie ahead, but we'll save the one on SATURDAY NIGHT for this weekend's concert previews to avoid redundant coverage. Otherwise, Bone Yard will return to Reggie's Place on Queen Street East for concerts on Friday, November 11th (yes, Remembrance Day, no word on any memorial tie-ins) and Saturday, November 12th, before returning there three weeks later on December 2nd & 3rd! Next weekend's shows will be Bone Yard's first at the downtown Reggie's in over a month, and hopefully Greg, Alex, and Warren deliver more solid weekends of southern rock and heavier covers ahead!

All four dates have 9:00 PM start times, no cover charges, and 19+ age limits, so visit the above links for more details! The other two brand new Bone Yard shows will take place on Friday, December 9th and Saturday, December 10th when they perform at.... Jay's Piston Broke Pub?! As it turns out, this is the brand new name for Reggie's West (née The Roosevelt Hotel) at 306 Korah Road, which did indeed get sold by Reggie Daigle to new ownership, as Soundcheck confirmed in their promotion for their gigs there this past weekend. Reggie's West's Facebook page hadn't been updated in almost two weeks before today, but Jay Scott is the new owner of the venue, and rather than stick to the existing name like Reggie's Place did or throw back to The Roosevelt Hotel, Jay's going with new vehicle-themed branding. Full disclosure, there is a Piston Broke Pub already in Brantford, no word on if it was an inspiration, but it is locally unique compared to other bars.

Unlike the sea change of 2014 when Reggie bought The Rosie, things look like the status quo for Jay's as far as bands go (cosmetic changes aside), with Jus' Chillin playing first this Friday & Saturday night, followed by Fort Creek next weekend, and Thursday jam nights will reportedly continue as well. Of course, I hope things go well at the pub in this new era! Sad to see Reggie divest himself of both of his bars (he sold Reggie's Place to separate owners in 2020), but hopefully he's doing well and it was just time to step back. Bone Yard will rock Jay's at 9:30 PM on the 9th & 10th with no cover and a 19+ age limit. Visit the above links for more details!

Next up, here's the latest from local/Toronto progressive metal project PROV3RB5, who we haven't talked about on here in way too long, so what's new to report from them? Over the summer, much of their updates on their Facebook page were about milestones for views and followers, plus the reach that their first three singles were getting from djent-friendly outlets, including video reviews from JMR Music Reviews and I Built The Sky guitarist Rohan Stevenson. In August, a band member(s?) guested on "Distant", a new song by Minnesota progressive metal solo project Stelliferous, whose leader Kevin Xiong previously guested on PROV3RB5's third single "Particles". The links are obvious as such, but the technical prog metal attack will absolutely appeal to genre fans! The Chinese company Dimension Music also interviewed them for this article.

Benjamin & Bryan are asked about the meaning of the band name, how they formed, their lyrical messages, how the music scenes in Canada & China differed (Ben lived in China for five years), and their future plans, among other topics. Not the best formatted review, but there are good insights that many fans won't have known, so give it a look above! Last month, they announced plans to re-issue their first three songs as instrumentals with no vocals (original singer Josh Ratliff left the band in April), and those evolved into what they're calling their debut EP, entitled "What Dreams May Come", which was posted onto Spotify & Apple Music earlier today! Links for both can be found at this Distrokid page. While streaming platforms are emphasized (i.e. no Bandcamp or Amazon availability yet), you can buy "What Dreams May Come" on iTunes for $2.97, so it is on sale!

As such, I can confirm that this EP will be reviewed on the SMS this month! Originally, I had pencilled in Chase Wigmore's new album, which was slated to be released on Saturday, but he has since confirmed that it was postponed, more on that in the coming days. Give "What Dreams May Come" a listen above, stay tuned for more proficient prog metal from PROV3RB5, and check out this new teaser video featuring the instrumental version of "Sea of Tranquility"! Alas, I can't embed it here because Facebook content matched the song to PROV3RB5' own streaming copies of it. That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post on the site next! Thanks everyone!

Last Month's Poll Results & Our Newest Poll!!

It's now time to shut down last month's poll and launch our newest poll on the SMS, so let's start by recalling last month's topic! In our latest poll, we posed this question to you guys: What is your opinion on local concerts & albums that are offered on "pay what you can/want" models? Sadly, we only got 6 votes, but there is an interesting final tally, and here it is!

Indifferent/no opinion (3 votes, 50%)

They should only be for special occasions or deals (2 votes, 33%)

They're a great option that's accessible to everyone! (1 vote, 17%)

It depends on the album or show (0 votes)

I don't like them, they should have a flat fee (0 votes)

What do you guys think? While there is a small sample size once again, it is clear from the votes that we did get that there's not a sizable opposition to the idea of "pay what you can" albums and shows, so most readers either like the idea in at least occasional usage, or don't oppose it! That said, of the six received votes, half were for "Indifferent/no opinion", which could be a sign that fans don't really concern themselves with admission fees and album costs, or that "pay what you want" models aren't really widespread right now (the idea mostly pops up locally via The Gore Street Cafe and Bandcamp.) It's possible that support behind "pay what you want" models would increase and become more widespread if it becomes more commonplace with more bands and venues, but I'd say that it's a nice option where offered, and while it shouldn't necessarily be the only payment method, it has it's place! Thanks to everyone for voting!

As for this month's poll, I wanted to tackle some recent events in the Soo that, while not directly tied with local music, could easily be intertwined if the movement grows. As you may know, the Bored Youth Sault movement has caught fire in recent weeks following the numerous "Bored" graffiti tags in the Soo by Kurtis Stone, who currently faces mischief charges for it, but has attracted a lot of support from locals who agree with the message and the lack of youth engagement & opportunity in the city. Hundreds of people like the movement's Facebook page already, and the movement has attracted a number of recent news articles and discussion that you can find via SooToday and The Sault Star. Aside from Lion Ride/Detroit alum Brenton Ellis' involvement in Monday's Bored support gathering downtown (he's quoted in this article), the Bored movement doesn't blend with The Sault Metal Scene's typical coverage, but the seeds are there, as local concerts and original bands are heavily driven on youth involvement as performers and attendees.

Some local music fans may find that an increase in concerts and band involvement would at least help in the issue of youth boredom & engagement, but should Kurtis' graffiti and the movement that arose from it be a  catalyst for change in local concerts? I'm posing this question to you guys for this month: Should local bands and musicians take part in the Bored Youth Sault movement? I've chosen 5 responses to pick from in the poll, so here's what you should know on each!

Yes, they can add a lot to the city's youth culture: One frequently cited partial remedy to the Bored movement is to get a new youth center in Sault Ste. Marie, but there's no one clear answer, and it's entirely possible that local musicians could do something to engage the youth, perhaps with an awareness concert, well-placed benefit show, or just booking more youth-geared concerts in general. If you think local musicians should absolutely help in the Bored movement, vote here!

Only if it can actually make a difference: For all of the support and attention that the Bored movement has been getting lately, there are skeptics who like the idea, but don't think it will actually create change. Case in point: Monday morning's gathering outside of the courthouse didn't even have 10 attendees when The Sault Star came for their report. Are you only in favour of an increased local music presence in the Bored movement if actual change is a guaranteed result?

No, musicians should stay out of it: Though the potential exists for local musicians to become involved in the Bored movement, it isn't directly tied to local music (as best as I can tell, Kurtis isn't a musician), and it's by and large about youth engagement and boredom in multiple facets. Maybe you find that musicians should not get involved in the Bored movement and let it remain at it's current wider appeal, or just want your music free of social causes? Vote here if you agree!

I'm not Bored, and like the Soo as it is: Of course, there are people who have no qualms with Sault Ste. Marie, find that it's as lively as you make it, and don't agree with the Bored movement for one reason or another. Perhaps you're just in a different stage in life, enjoy the Soo for what it is, and don't want to get involved with any upheavals of what's comfortable. Others may find that this is the wrong way to go about creating change, but if you're not Bored, this is the option for you!

Indifferent/no opinion: Are you oblivious to the Bored movement, not impacted by it at all in your life, or don't live in the Soo at present? If, for any reason, this doesn't affect you or your perceptions of the city (good or bad) in any way, this is your choice!

VOTE TODAY!! You have until July 18th to cast your votes, so hopefully we get a good turnout for this very topical poll, so vote A.S.A.P. on the page's right, and stay tuned for some special early-week concert previews and more tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

Last Month's Poll Results, And This Month's Newest Poll!!

It's now time to close down last month's poll on the SMS and launch our newest poll, and today also marks the final closure of our "favourite _____ of 2015" polls!  This month, we're posing this question to you guys: "What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert of 2015?" Sadly, we only received 12 votes in this culmination of our half-year 2015 polls, but the turnout is actually up from the month prior, so thanks to everyone who did vote, and here are the final tallies!

SNFU & Jack Spades at The Rockstar Bar on July 24th (5 votes, 42%)
Anvil & Jack Spades at The Rockstar Bar on April 1st  (3 votes, 25%)
Benighted & Bookakee at The Oddfellows Hall on March 7th (2 votes, 17%)
The VM Radio Battle Of The Bands from March 4th-25th (1 vote, 8%)
Project 421 & Haggith at The Rockstar Bar on January 23rd (1 vote, 8%)
Swampstravaganza V at The Canadian on May 9th (0 votes)
Caym & Jack Spades at The Algonquin Pub on May 15th (0 votes)
The Archaics at The New American Pub on June 1st (0 votes)
The Rockstar Bar's Summer Bash on June 26th (0 votes)
 The Golers & Shit Liver at The New A on August 9th (0 votes)
Diemonds at The Rednecks Saloon on August 21st (0 votes)
Fuck The Facts at The Oddfellows Hall on Sept. 20th (0 votes)
Other (0 votes)

What do you guys think? The vote turnout is disappointing, especially considering that these shows are the only ones to get votes in our half year polls on your favourite concerts of 2015, and the Fuck the Facts is most disappoitning of all given that it won the late 2015 poll that concluded last month. It's all in who votes! In an upset, last July's SNFU-headlined concert at The Rockstar Bar came in first place for the end-year poll, after finishing in second place last month, more than doubling it's vote total from then, so kudos to all bands involved in that well-recieved concert in terms of winning the ultimate poll! The remaining vote-getters were all from early-2015 concerts, with Rockstar Bar shows picking up half of the total votes. Interesting results all around, and with three of the top 4 choices going to J.D. Pearce-promoted concerts, it's a good sign for the popularity and success of his local concerts! Thanks to everyone who voted!

As for this month's poll, let's transition back into some more general topics, starting with one that reflects a recent trend from a few local albums and concerts. The question we are posing this month is: "What is your opinion on local concerts & albums that are offered on "pay what you can/want" models?" This is by no means the norm, but in recent years, the idea of offering albums or concert admission via donation or a fluid, consumer-determined amount has been gaining traction with some artists. The Gore Street Cafe hosts many of their concerts (and even some of their food menus) on a "pay what you can" model, while a handful of other events have followed suit, like the recent Metal Massacre house shows. The idea has persisted longer locally with album releases, as a bunch of local bands have released albums through Bandcamp on "name your price" models, with bands like Jack Spades, Haggith, Downshift, RedD Monkey, and The Northern Tragedy among the roster giving this option, which allows for free downloads if the consumer chooses.

Is the "name your price/pay what you want" model something you support? It has it's pluses and minuses, so we've picked five choices that you can pick from regarding your opinions on this model, so read on below for details!

They're a great option that's accessible to everyone!: Do you wholeheartedly support bands and/or concerts that allow fans to pick their payment amount? Do you find that it allows more fans to attend shows or buy albums, or at least open the door to a wider audience with such options available? If you 100% support shows and albums of this kind, this is your choice!

It depends on the album or show: Maybe you find that a "pay what you can" scenario fits certain bands, promoters, and/or venues more than others, as not all of them are equal or cater to the same clientele. Maybe you'd be more apt to pay a variable amount for one band over another, or if you find that it'll be more beneficial to that venue? If your opinion's as fluid as the concept, vote here!

They should only be for special occasions or deals: Locally speaking, a "name your price" model for albums or shows is a regular occurrence when it comes to local acts on Bandcamp, or the promoters that put on said shows. That said, there may be some of you who find the concept to be best utilized in small doses, perhaps for special events, venue deals and campaigns, or perhaps tied into existing charity events where a donation is expected. If you'd want such shows to be more of a special attraction, pick this option!

I don't like them, they should have a flat fee: On the flip side, there is a reason why most local concerts have a flat admission fee. A "pay what you can" model is unpredictable, as you can't predict how generous and/or stingy customers will be, while a flat admission can be easier to manage, and more reliable for paying bands and covering costs of putting a show on or recording/releasing a CD. Customers may prefer paying a set price, knowing they're supporting the artists' full work, but do you agree with the above?

Indifferent/no opinion: Do you have no real view on the benefits and/or drawbacks of "pay what you want" albums and concerts? Do you just attend shows and buy albums, without regard to the admission fee? When a variable, consumer-set price comes up, do you just pay the general amount for a comparable event and not think about it again? Do you just avert this model of admission or purchasing altogether? If you have no side otherwise on this topic, here's the choice for you!

VOTE TODAY!! You have until June 18th to cast your votes, so do so A.S.A.P., and while the vote turnout is to be established, it'll be interesting to see what most people have to say! See above for more details, and stay tuned for weekend concert previews and more to come! Thanks everyone!