Prong

Prong emerged from the New York City underground of the late 80’s, quickly setting themselves apart from the conformist culture of the city’s hardcore and metal scenes. They were recognized internationally for their first two independent releases: Primitive Origins and Force Fed.  When Prong’s dalliance with the outer limits of the mainstream acceptance came via Epic Records, it proved more successful than the underground-bred trio ever expected.  The band’s “Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck” from Cleansing became Prong’s calling card.

“It felt like the world had finally caught up with us,” says Tommy. Prong’s influence was being felt in the scene around them. Bands from the likes of Pantera to White Zombie to Korn were taking notice of Prong’s purposeful, creative riffing and making that the template for platinum selling success. “I wasn’t jealous,” Tommy recalls. “But I could take a royalty check or two.”

At the beginning of  the 2000’s, Tommy put Prong aside for a time to play with Danzig and Ministry.  It was a much-needed time for Victor to refocus his energies. When Prong finally twisted itself back into form, they toured exhaustively both headlining and supporting the likes of Soulfly and Fear Factory. Slowly but surely, the songs and ideas that would become Carved Into Stone began to take form.  “The songs I was writing felt more like Prong than anything I had written since Raven was in the band,” says Tommy, recalling the era when the recently deceased ex-Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven was one of his co-conspirators.

Prong’s Long Branch Records/SPV debut Carved Into Stone isn’t merely another chapter in the band’s many-storied career or the much clichéd “return to form”. It’s the sound of Tommy Victor and Company stating exactly who Prong is. Like it or not, they aren’t about to go away any time soon.