PRONG - Ruining Lives
May 12, 2014, 10 years ago
(Steamhammer/SPV)
NYC’s Prong, led by vocalist/guitarist Tommy Victor have sustained a decent 25-plus career. On its ninth full-length release, Ruining Lives, the band does what it does best. Forming in 1986, Prong managed to carve its own niche throughout the ’90s alt-rock/grunge movement by combining elements of hardcore, post-punk, industrial and thrash metal. In 1996, Prong was put on hold while Victor toured as a member of Danzig, followed by a stint in Ministry. Prong has endured two hiatuses and in 2012, Victor released its long-overdue comeback album, Carved Into Stone, which received well-deserved attention. On Ruining Lives, Victor, along with Chris Collier, played all the instruments. They managed to keep the old school Prong elements intact; signature fuzzy guitar tones, catchy, chantable choruses, pulsating atmospheric background samples, sharp, bravado gang chants and Victor’s trademark vocals. Production duties were handled by Victor, which allowed him to be cognizant of his own individual performance. Ruining Lives is pretty darn good, however, it might not be the Prong you once knew. Its current sound is more polished, yet the grittiness and edginess is still here, but it lacks that familiarity that most older fans grew up with. Ultimately, we should all be thankful that Prong has released another recording.
