PROTOTYPE profile picture

PROTOTYPE

WHAT YOU BELIEVE MIGHT NOT BE

About Me


PROTOTYPE'S "THE WAY IT ENDS" IS FEATURED ON

PLAY IT TODAY ON XBOX 360, Wii AND PS3!


Also available at these fine online retailers:

Century Media Records / The End Records
CDBaby / Laser's Edge / Nightmare Records
CLICK HERE TO POST IN OUR OFFICIAL FORUM

In 1994, the two remaining members of prominent Los Angeles thrash band PSYCHOSIS formed the original lineup of PROTOTYPE. Kragen Lum (guitar) and Vince Levalois (vocals, guitar), together with a new drummer and bassist, recorded three of their newest compositions for their highly acclaimed "Seed" demo. Critics worldwide have praised "Seed" as one of the top metal recordings available, even referring to it as a benchmark for today's aggressive/melodic progressive metal.
After extensive club appearances in support of "Seed," Lum and Levalois reentered the studio in 1997 to record their independent CD "Cloned," which again received international critical and fan acclaim. This session marked the first collaboration with new drummer Pat Magrath, formerly of Edel America Records act Killing Culture. Bassist Kirk Scherer joined PROTOTYPE in 1999. His solid rhythm and songwriting abilities completing the band's former lineup. Having parted ways with Magrath in 2002, SINCE THEN PROTOTYPE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH SESSION DRUMMERS UNTIL RECENTLY ADDING THE SKILLS OF NIC RITTER, APPEARING ON THE BAND'S UPCOMING DEMO RELEASE FOR 2008.
PROTOTYPE has and continues to support today's most renowned metal acts. The band has previously shared live billing with FATES WARNING, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEATH, HAMMERFALL, NEVERMORE, MERCYFUL FATE, ENTOMBED, EXODUS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, MORBID ANGEL and GRIP INC., among many others. These professional collaborations have provided the experience and knowledge needed to excel both on and off the stage.
Based in Los Angeles, PROTOTYPE continues to push the boundaries of metal's status quo. Throughout the years, the Lum/Levalois songwriting team has produced some of the most innovative progressive/aggressive music in the worldwide underground metal scene. The band breaks the rules of meshing styles without compromising musical integrity. Their songs boast an array of powerful melody, progression and passion combined with futuristic overtones, while still retaining a heavy attitude. Levalois' lyrics poetically and often metaphorically explore topics of history, humanity and the questioning of one's faith. These phrasings are honest words derived from personal emotion, conflict and educated experience, which serve to reinforce the band's drive and musical direction.
The partnership of Lum and Levalois has flourished for more than a decade, during which time they have developed local, national and international recognition through extensive club performances and one-on-one communication with fans and press at home and abroad. PROTOTYPE continues this grass roots approach to self-promotion by distributing their albums through independent retailers worldwide, and by securing airplay on U.S., South American and European radio programs, where they have achieved regular to heavy rotation.
In recent years, they have gained additional notoriety through numerous successful tribute albums. PROTOTYPE has been invited to record songs from pioneering metal bands--from Metallica to Rush, Iron Maiden to Testament--for inclusion on commercially distributed CDs honoring the veteran acts. Their renditions of these classic metal anthems have attracted a legion of new fans for their original material. In fact, their versions of Metal Church's self-titled song and Metallica's "Battery" have held the ..1 position on the internet metal charts for months on end, averaging over 200 downloads every week! Similarly, PROTOTYPE'S original recordings and tribute songs dominate the Progressive and Thrash Metal charts at the high-traffic Mp3.com (RIP) site, where they are consistently found toping the Progressive Metal and Thrash Metal charts.
PROTOTYPE's music represents the consummate intersection of aggressive and progressive song construction, offering a high-energy performance that showcases exceptional musicianship in compositions that remain astonishingly melodic.

PROTOTYPE MERCH!

We use PAYPAL for ordering merchandise from our website with a credit card or checking account. PAYPAL is easy, very secure and free to setup a new account if you don't already have one.
Shipping and Handling is not included, and based on a percentage of the total order.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS, PLEASE ADD $3.00USD TO ALL ORDERS FOR SHIPPING.

NEW PROTOTYPE DVD "LIVE AT THE WHISKY 1998" NOW AVAILABLE!!!
PROTOTYPE "LIVE @ THE WHISKY 1998" DVD (NTSC) - $10
90 minutes
Shot LIVE at The Whisky-A-Go-Go on December 5th, 1998 in support of DEATH's "Sound of Perseverance" tour. Recorded after the release of the CLONED CD/EP. Great Quality, multi camera angles...NOT made from a Camcorder!


Bonus materials include two additional live shows and photo archive.
**Please make sure your DVD player can read burned media!

PROTOTYPE LONG SLEEVE SHIRT - $20
European import - High Quality
AVAILABLE IN M, XL (L is out of stock)
PLEASE SPECIFY WHEN ORDERING
BACK FEATURES PROTOTYPE SYMBOL WITH QUOTE "WHAT YOU BELIEVE MIGHT NOT BE"


PROTOTYPE SHORT SLEEVE "TRINITY" T-SHIRT - $20
4 Color High Quality
AVAILABLE IN L & XL - PLEASE SPECIFY WHEN ORDERING
BACK LOGO LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF SHIRT
WITH QUOTE "WHAT YOU BELIEVE MIGHT NOT BE"


HEADWAY FESTIVAL PROMO VIDEO FROM 2003



My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/21/2005
Band Website: prototypeonline.com
Band Members: SOME YEARS AGO WE RECORDED SEVERAL COVER SONGS FOR THE RELEASE OF TRIBUTE ALBUMS BY A COUPLE OF LABELS. HERE'S A FEW OF THEM, HOPE YA DIG AND COMMENT THAT S**T!!!



KIRK SCHERER | BASS


KRAGEN LUM | GUITAR


VINCE LEVALOIS | GUITAR+VOX


NIC RITTER | DRUMS



PROTOTYPE IS ENDORSED BY/USES


HOMEBREW ELECTRONICS

Sounds Like: YOU DECIDE


Record Label: Nightmare Records, Massacre Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

PROTOTYPE enlists new drummer

HAIL! Everyone please welcome Nic Ritter to the Prototype fold as our new drummer!Nic has been working with us for the last 6-8 months or so and isresponsible for the drum tracks on our new 4 song pre...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:52:00 PST

Recent review of Continuum

It’s been a while since we’ve read any new reviews of Continuum.  We just got this one from www.metal-archives.com... Aside from a couple of informational errors (i.e. Pat played on H...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:53:00 PST

YouTube videos

Since the release of GH3 and the popularity of The Way It Ends on the game, we've found that many of you have posted videos on YouTube of your GH3 performances, but also of other kinds using the song ...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:28:00 PST

PROTOTYPE FEATURED ON GUITAR HERO III

PROTOTYPE Track "The Way It Ends" Featured on Guitar Hero III Game   Los Angeles, CA, October 26, 2007     Los Angeles based progressive thrash metal band PROTOTYPE announced today ...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:16:00 PST

Live A Lie Guitar Transcription (TAB)

Live A Lie Guitar Transcription (TAB)Well, I finally had some time to finish the Live A Lie guitar transcription that I started a while back.  The file can be downloaded from the following link:w...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:16:00 PST

Drummer sought

Just a note to remind everyone that we are still on the lookout for talented drummers interested in working with us.  We've got most of our third album written and we need a solid yet tasteful dr...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:50:00 PST

NEWS 01/18/2007 - READ!!

1.  PROTOTYPE TRACK FEATURED IN ACTIVISION'S NEW TONY HAWK'S DOWNHILL JAM GAME FOR NINTENDO Wii GAMING PLATFORMActivision's latest release in the Tony Hawk franchise, "Tony Hawk's Downhill...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:54:00 PST

Vote for your favorite song off of CONTINUUM

Attention PROTOFANS... Go to our forums and be sure to pick your favorite song from CONTINUUM.  Inquiring minds want to know!! http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255688 If you ha...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 10:34:00 PST

Radio Free Las Vegas - READ THIS

Attention all PROTOFANS - Vote for us on Radio Free Las Vegas! Read below and act!  Thanks for your support. Radio Free Las Vegas is proud to announce the following bands have been selected to ai...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Sat, 01 Jul 2006 09:35:00 PST

CONTINUUM Reviews!!

Man, there are so many already!  Needless to say, they're excellent, check them out and sorry, but they are all in German!  We'll have some translations soon and reviews in English as well. ...
Posted by PROTOTYPE on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:05:00 PST