Prong: X - No Absolutes

Steamhammer / SPV
2016


Due to drop on February 5th, "X - No Absolutes" is the latest (superb) recording from New York legends Prong. Chronologically-speaking this brand new 13-track* album follows the single release of "Ultimate Authority" (a blunt force trauma take on hardcore metal/thrash which actually opens this album in nice fashion) and the "Songs From the Black Hole" cover album. While I personally glossed over that one (even if I did greatly appreciate Prong's choice to cover of the Butthole Surfer's song "Goofy's Concern"!) I did review 2014's "Ruining Lives". For many longtime fans and critics alike that particular album was a bit hit or miss. Thankfully Prong seems to have tightened down their sound and they've obviously spent a hell of a lot of time and energy on this headbanger. Once again produced by Prong main man Tommy Victor (guitar, vocals), "X - No Absolutes" features some of the best material from this New York power trio in some time. With the backing of Jason Christopher (bass) & Art Cruz (drums) and with Chris Collier serving as co-producer and engineer for this release Prong's front-man works his way through one blistering number after another with the overall sound & vibe splitting the cross-hairs of classic Prong and modern day hardcore heavy metal. With the possible exception of "Do Nothing" (Prong's bizarre and totally unnecessary attempt at a ballad!) there isn't a misfire to be found on  "X - No Absolutes". I could go through this one track by track, but seeing as we're talking about 12 (riff-heavy and sinister sharp!) good tracks here out of the thirteen what would be the point? All you need to know is that if you're a Prong fan then you are going to want to snag and bag this hardcore thrasher as soon as it drops! On their forthcoming album Tommy Victor sounds great (his vocals sound rested and yet as gritty as ever!) and his guitar playing is as good as it's ever been! The strings sound crisp and the lead work catches your attention right from the beginning. In spite of the fact that there isn't a long work history between Jason Christopher and Art Cruz this pair still manages to surround Tommy's voice and guitar with a solid rhythm section that helps accentuate Victor's strong points and drive home the fact that New York metal is (and always will be) the real deal! In concussion friends "X - No Absolutes" ended up leaving me a bit breathless as it's a powerfully strong LP where passion and fury join up for a good old fashioned throw-down! Thanks to Prong's latest collection of lean & mean material I was left with the comfortable feeling that 2016 is going to be a damn fine year when it comes to hard-jamming (crossover) metal! With a full schedule of shows** already lined up for after the release of "X-No Absolute" it sure does look as if Prong has no intention of slowing down. Thank God (or at least the god of hell-fire and heavy "fucking" metal!) for that small favor as there are many of us who still need our heroes.... . 

 
*The CD version of "X-No Absolute" features the bonus track "Universal Law"

**Prong already has 55 headline shows announced for right after this beastly album drops. I don't know about anyone else, but i sure as hell am going to try my damnedest to hit one of those gigs!

Prong-Ruining Lives (Limited Digipak Edition)

Steamhammer / SPV
2014

Amazingly enough New York's Prong last appeared in these hollowed pages two years ago. Exactly two years! That particularly appearance (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Prong-Carved+Into+Stone) saw yours truly covering the band's last full-length release, 2012's "Carved Into Stone", which was an album that was well received by fans, critics or, in the case of both Metal Mark and myself, both! Now we find Prong (or at this point pretty much just Tommy Victor along with engineer Chris Collier, the likely drummer on "Ruining Lives") on album number which, in addition to being produced by band founder Tommy Victor, is supposedly the group's fastest recorded LP! As I loved their last release I went and ordered this one without even hearing any previews and, as the the picture above showcases, I opted for the limited edition, digipak version. This particular version includes one bonus cut, "Retreat", along with a nifty poster that was almost instantly snagged by my 14 year old son! Style-wise this one is a departure from their last LP which rather surprised me. "Ruining Lives" is somewhat similar to 2007's "Power of the Damager" although it kind of jumps around and contains numbers like the title cut, a "Force Feed" kind of moment and more then a few tracks which harken back to the band's "Beg To Differ"/"Prove You Wrong" days. Mostly though this sounds like New York thrash with some hardcore thrown in (a tiny bit that is) and, weird as it might sound, the basic arrangements of both heavy metal and heavy rock (song-structuring if you will). Many have hailed this as one of Prong's best albums and in truth I can see where these people are coming from. The only real issue I have with "Ruining Lives" is the lack of real diversity. While the cuts are heavy and feature Prong's familiar crushing approach to thrash and hardcore it just seems as if some of these tracks were not flushed out enough. Maybe it's because the album was rushed or the fact that there are few musicians involved here, but I just had this feeling that the songs could have used a little something "extra". Still, Prong fans of old should dig this as will the younger kids who are finding themselves drawn to the power of  metallic thrash.

Prong-Carved Into Stone

Steamhammer / SPV
2012

My first taste of Prong came back in high school with "Beg To Differ". With it's mixture of Black Sabbath, Helmet and Metallica riffs it won me over. Lately it seems as if I'm the only person that still digs that LP. Sure enough I too worked my way back and I distinctly remember picking up "Force Fed" on tape and being bowled over. It made "Big To Differ" sound like a pop album with it's urban brutality. The thing is I managed to hold dear to both albums and ended up a fan of Tommy Victor and company. I have not always liked every album, but pound for pound I'll take Prong over a band like Pro-Pain. Where to begin with my love then? Well, first off nobody does it like Prong. Does what you ask? Hardcore/crossover/thrash/groove...whatever it is they do no one does it like them. Period. Even when they were going head-first into Killing Joke territory Prong were still in a league of their own. Like I said I didn't care for every album, but every album sounds like Prong. Since 1986, when CBGB sound check man Tommy Victor meet ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons, Prong has always played what they want when they want. And no matter what got put out on vinyl it always had Tommy's distinct vocals and guitar playing in the mix. With "Carved Into Stone" I had heard a lot of positive reviews prior to getting the album. When it got sent to me then I expected something that sounded like a mix of "Cleansing" and "Rude Awakening". The album, produced and mixed by Steve Evetts (Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence), does sound similar in nature to those two albums however (and maybe it is just me) "Carved Into Stone" sounds like a very hungry Prong ready to pick a fight. The band (Tommy, drummer Alexei Rodriguez and bassist Tony Campos) sound as if they are fired up with a renewed sense of urgency. "Eternal Heat" is a formidable opener filled with an insane amount of rage. What a way to come out of the gate with all guys firing! Man, just epic hardcore/metal. After that opening number I was afraid the rest might be a let down, but thankfully I was wrong. The music here does go all over the place though, but in a good way. The best cut is arguably the "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" like cut "Revenge...Best Served Cold". This is Prong at their best when they throw out crunchy, power-laden primitive thrash that whips you into a frenzy! Love it. The record makes all kinds of stops though. There is the Black Sabbath/stoner vibe of the title cut to the Pantera/groove number "Put Myself To Sleep". There is even sweet, old-school thrash in "List of Grievances". So, even when Prong mix up the pieces on an album it all works because in the end it still sounds like a Prong record! I've listened to this album several times now and I'm nearly ready to call this one of my favorite Prong releases. The only thing the album does not have for those interested is any industrial leanings. Instead this is a record that has instant-classic Prong numbers like "Revenge...Best Served Cold". Why I waited so long to try to get this album is an absolute mystery. This is, in my opinion, every bit as good as classic Prong is only with an admitted modern edge. It's great to see that some bands can remain together for so many years (even if really it is only Tommy Victor as the original member) and we're talking about them releasing great music.

Battle of the bands

It is...


Pantera

vs.


Prong


***Which band do you prefer?

Number 21

We are already down to number 21 on my top hard rock/metal guitarist countdown and it is...



Tommy Victor



The Prong frontman started his band out as a rather average semi-thrash/hardcore outfit, but by 1990's Beg to differ he was on to something else. Victor's playing has been tight, sharp and incredibly heavy at times. His playing focused as much on patience and control as anything else and it worked. Prong were one of the few metal bands of the 1990's doing anything worth listening to and breaking ground on top of it. He wasn't afraid to add some industrial edges and take some chances. He also worked with Ministry, Danzig and Rob Zombie, but it's his work with Prong that has set him apart.



Number 20 is coming up next week.

Prong-Power of the damn mixxxer

2009
13th Planet/Megaforce

Actually Prong are no strangers to re-mix albums although it has been 17 years since "Whose fist is this anyway?" EP was released. It was 1990's "Beg to differ" that saw this band establishing their own sound and pulling away from the mediocre ramblings of their two previous albums. I was instantly hooked by "Beg to differ", but it was 1991's "Prove you wrong" when Tommy Victor and company really started spreading their wings. They added some industrial blasts and moved beyond just being a metal act. The band got even better after that, but unfortunately they called it quits a few years later. Eventually after stints with Rob Zombie and Danzig, Victor revived the band name and has since delivered "Scorpio Rising" and "Power of the Damager" in recent years. Neither really approach the level the band were at in the previous decade because I truly believe they were one of if the best band of the 90's. There is no denying the impact that Prong have had on heavy music either even if they did get their proper due when they were at their prime. That brings us up to date and leads us to this album. A number of different artists including Rob Caggiano (Anthrax),Virus (Dope), Greg Puciato (Dillenger Escape Plan) and others have been given the reigns and the opportunity to re-mix a total of thirteen Prong tracks. Re-mix albums can be very hit and miss which is understandable if there knob turners from different backgrounds as is the case on this disc. Not all the songs work completely, but if nothing else this is certainly a refreshing collection of different tranlations of some Tommy Victor's work. Much like cover songs, I think re-mixes are only worth listening to if the person in charge brings something of their own to the translation. We are in luck because this disc is certainly filled with plenty of twists and tweaks that at best reflect the ideas of those behind the curtains. It's not perfect of course as a few songs are predictable or limited in their approach, but this is a good tribute to Tommy Victor and Prong. Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the last twenty years should have already been impacted by Prong. However "Power of the damn mixxxer" helps to re-enforce that notion as we get to hear so many various takes on their music. My hope now is that Victor can come back with the kind of bare-knuckled bashing original album that Prong have not created since "Rude Awakening" back in 1996.