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| Profane September, 2001 Score! Music "U-Rock Award" Winners by Jaimie on behalf of the Score! Sirens. I first brought Profane into the Score! world around October of 2000. The mag was brand new, and I wanted to be able to use it to give this band some much-needed exposure. This band that I'd only seen once before, but who's name was as familiar to me as my own. Profane formed in 1992, and soon after became a favorite of my brother, who was friends with drummer Johnny Harke. Having grown up listening to my sibling's music, gaining an appreciation for hard bands such as Pantera and Slayer, Profane was played right there with them. I'd always considered myself a fan, even though I wasn't really into the music. I even carried their card in my wallet! Things have changed, however. My brother is a family man now, and I work for a music magazine. Profane is now *my* band. And I want them to be YOUR band. In the near-decade since their inception, they've had a few lineup changes, but are currently holding strong with drummer Johnny Harke, guitarist Tim Beyer, bassist Jason "Koz" Koslucher, and vocalist Kurt VanderVelden. They've released three albums, as well. Social Suicide in 1993, 1001 Proof in 1997, and just this year, The Spoils Of Burglaratic Victory. Kurt did an interview with me, and explained how they try to work a lot with up-and-coming and local bands. I appreciate that, as that's a founding theme behind Score! itself. I've seen them a few times over the past year, introducing me to such local bands as Lead and Simple Machine. Keeping in that local spirit, bassist Koz and Profane's engineer Mike Flood co-own Warped Wreckords which helps produce more local bands. Profane. A band who request that you judge them for yourself by seeing them live. A band whom I've never seen live without being disappointed when their show ended. A band who never ends a show without having everyone there a fan. Because they kick ass. Check out more info at http://www.geocities.com/profaneband_93/index.com or contact them at [email protected]. |
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| �Demo� Artist: Profane Genre: Hardcore Metal Heidi S. Schmitt Fourth Estate Commentary Profane�s latest release, a four-song demo, confirms what die-hard fans of this Green Bay-area band already know: that it is a hardcore metal band with serious talent. Just go to any Profane show. If the massive amounts of energy spewing from the lead singer don�t suck you in, then the amazing and explosive musical ability are sure to leave you stupefied. Profane is a metal band with a sound that definitely alludes to hard rock and metal music of old. It is a unique band, writing original lyrics and music that do not by any means rip off any other band�s ingenuity, although that seems to be the popular way to make it big in the music biz these days. Profane�s music is evocative of bands like Cradle of Filth, Slayer and Machine Head. Strong and versatile vocals are supported, but not overpowered, by a commanding guitar presence, subtle yet clever bass and a rhythmically driving style on drums. The lyrics reflect the band members� life experiences, but in a creative and non-clich� manner that is easy to relate to. Lyrics like �Well, I�ve been weary of what I wanted to say, but now I�m going to say what I want anyway,� from the song �Show Your Face� off the new record, are universal and empowering, especially to younger generations and most fans of metal bands. I believe it is this ability to so easily connect with fans, as well as its open and caring attitude toward them, in addition to its awesome music, that has caused Profane�s fan base and exposure to multiply almost exponentially since its formation in 1993. The members of Profane try to emphasize the positive release of energy through musical and artistic expression instead of through violence. Its music is not violent and does not promote violence to listeners or at shows. One would be wise to remember that. Profane�s music has progressed since its debut in 1994. Its sound is more polished, more distinctly Profane. It seems as though it has found its voice, its one true face. Based upon the quality of its latest demo, it is apparent that Profane has evolved an intense, atypical personality of its own, incomparable to other bands. Much like Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and Korn have created subcategories of music unique to their band�s style, Profane has added a new level of metal to the local scene. As their popularity increases, there is no doubt in my mind that metalheads around the country will embrace the titillating musical experience that is Profane. I would venture to say that as the members of Profane have matured in their lives, so has the meaning and lyrical content of their music. The four songs that comprise the new album seem to have a stronger, more refined message. The longer a band is together, the better the members play together and the better the music is. It is clear Profane has found its musical niche. It won�t be long before Profane is the band to be, redfining rock/metal music of the future. On a grading scale I give Profane an EEE on its newest demo, and EEEE live because it has a rock �n� roll magnetism that is positively addicting, not to mention a little hard on the neck. Profane�s music is available at its shows as well as on its website, "Profane". Additional information about the band and show dates are also available on the site. |
| Profane 1001 Proof (c)1997 Mud Bud Productions Review by Vladimir Levin Thanks to the band for the CD Profane has got to have the most hilarious album cover I have seen in a long time - a guy (Profane's Mascot "fluff" as it turns out) underneath some bridge sporting a huge Afro and a tie-dyed tshirt with his head pulled back as he sucks on a canister of gasoline! The Web site thanks Fluff for giving his life to the making of the CD. Judging from the CD as well as the sound, intense power metal (think Pantera, but smoother), one would imagine this band to be from Chicago or Detroit. But no, they're from Wisconsin -- as their Web page states, they are indeed the Mid-West's "premiere metal band!" Regardless of location, Profane emanates a hard urban attitude and puts forth a devastating powerful metal sound with sharp thunderous riffs and forceful vocals. This is definitely a band to be reckoned with. They only problem I have with 1001 proof is that it's only about 35 minutes long, otherwise it's just about perfect. My favourite tracks are the hard and uncompromising "Down For All" and "I Am All" due to the imaginative and original riffing. Profane is: Kurt VanderVelden Johnny Harke Jason Koslucher Tim Beyer Contact: Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.geocities.com/profaneband_93/index.html |
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| Fox Valley metal meisters Profane set to crack more skulls with a diverse new album, �Say What You Will� |
| By Steven Hyden Post-Crescent staff writer Feb. 14 marked the 12th birthday of Fox Valley metal band Profane. OK, so maybe Valentine�s Day isn�t the most appropriate day to start a metal band. But Halloween is a little cliche, don�t you think? Singer Kurt VanderVelden gets a kick out of the fact that he started Profane with drummer Johnny Harke on the most romantic day of the year. �We kind of joke about it, that we were talking about a heavy metal band on Valentine�s Day,� VanderVelden said. �It was a precursor of things to come.� Red paper hearts and boxes of chocolate go with Profane�s punishing riffs and barking vocals like Michael Bolton goes with �The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.� Which is to say, not very well. But like any good relationship, this muscular-yet-melodic quartet (rounded out by guitarist Tim Beyer and bassist Jason �Koz� Koslucher) has been held together for a decade-plus by communication and seeking the common ground. �At this point, as far as Johnny and I go, we�ve been through the best and the worst,� VanderVelden said. �I don�t have anything in my life besides family that�s been around for 12 years.� With �Say What You Will,� VanderVelden feels Profane is just starting to hit its stride. The CD, which will be released with shows Saturday at Gentlemen Jack�s in Little Chute and Sunday at Ryan�s Ballroom in Combined Locks, is the band�s first since 2001�s �Spoils of Burglaratic Victory.� While that album was recorded in a garage, �Say What You Will� was recorded over several months in 2004 and early 2005 at Simple Studios in Green Bay. The time and care put into �Say What You Will� is light years beyond anything Profane attempted on its three previous CDs. The fruits of the band�s labor are heard loud and clear on the finished result, VanderVelden said. �We all had problems with the last record,� he said. For this CD, �everybody had to be completely happy with everything, and we all are, which is a new feeling for me.� What sets �Say What You Will� apart from previous Profane releases is its diversity of material. The band can still pound with the best of them, but on songs such as �Beautiful,� they actually sound (gasp) pretty. (Don�t worry, headbangers. They get around to the scary, growly stuff later in the track.) A common thread running through the album is VanderVelden�s introspective lyrics, which are based on his life experience. �Turdy� is a subtle-as-a-sledgehammer commentary on turning 30. �Hitler Wannabe� is a rant at an old boss universal enough to inspire fist pumping among the hardworking masses. �I don�t write about what I don�t know,� VanderVelden said. �Mystic castles in other dimensions, I don�t know about that (stuff). If you�re going to say something, you gotta mean it, especially if you want it to come out with the raw emotion we�re trying to convey.� After 12 years, Profane has hung together far longer than its frontman ever envisioned. He�s optimistic they can keep it going. �It�s a cool ride,� VanderVelden said. �And it�s getting cooler.� |