Prong

Prong – State of Emergency Review

Prong – State of Emergency Review

“It was 33 years ago that a young, impressionable Itchymenace was in Musicland and noticed the artwork on Prong’s breakthrough album, Beg to Differ was by Pushead, the same dude who did the Metallica shirts. Thinking it must be good by association, I immediately purchased the cassette and eagerly placed it in my Walkman. It wasn’t love at first listen but there was something there. While not as polished sounding as …And Justice for All or Master of Puppets, the riffs were good in a different way. They had a raw edge that eventually won me over. Subsequent albums would convert this reviewer into a life-long fan and seeing Prong in 1995 solidified my opinion that they were unsung heroes of the metal world. Fast forward to 2023 and Steel Druhm waving the latest release under my nose along with threats to not “Virgin Steele” it. Poke, prod, Prong.

Lyken21 – Cyclical Insight Review

Lyken21 – Cyclical Insight Review

“Bands who churn up a variety of styles within their sound present some challenges to music consumers and the journalists who cover them. On the one hand they provide a host of talking points in a single review, while on the other they make it difficult to categorize and pigeonhole. And there is nothing wrong with that, per se. One glance at where heavy metal music has drifted from its 1970s roots is all it takes to affirm that these mash-ups of styles can and often do enrich the genre.” Genre pile-up ahead.

4 Days of Death: The Maryland Deathfest Diaries

4 Days of Death: The Maryland Deathfest Diaries

“Anyone who’s seen The Wire knows Baltimore can be a rough place, but on Memorial Day weekend every year, things get especially brutal. Hundreds of rabid metal fans from all over the world descend on ‘Charm City’ to participate in Maryland Deathfest, and the result is four days of moshing, headbanging, and partying like it’s 1989.” Death to all.

Poltergeist – Back to Haunt Review

Poltergeist – Back to Haunt Review

“In a dimly lit basement sits an easel covered by a dust-kissed veil. Beneath it reveals a portrait illustrating denim-clad, leonine-tousled men. Their faces are sunken and scored, their skin sallow and mottled. Whilst the painting’s subjects may be cruelled by time, the actual bands portrayed here are instead brimming with life, churning out quality music that belies their age.” The olde can still be bold(e).

Prong – X – No Absolutes Review

Prong – X – No Absolutes Review

“Tommy Victor’s Prong have been cranking out music at a furious rate lately, delivering a studio record, a covers EP and a live album within the past 2 years or so. While this work ethic is admirable (and rivaled only by perhaps Max Cavalera), we all know quantity does not always equal quality. 2012’s Carved Into Stone was their best record since their early 1990s heyday, but the follow-up Ruining Lives was somewhat hindered by fake-sounding production and some half-baked attempts at melody. Can X–No Absolutes reverse the trend, or continue it further?” You just have to root for Prong, don’t you?

Prong – Songs From The Black Hole Review

Prong – Songs From The Black Hole Review

“Being a Prong fan can be a confusing exercise in cognitive dissonance. I am acutely aware of their many musical shortcomings, and yet I keep coming back for the awesome riffs and mosh-worthy aggression. The band’s track record with other people’s songs is pretty bizarre, and when I saw the tracklist for their covers album Songs From The Black Hole, my initial reaction was equal parts glee and dread. This has the potential to either be fucking awesome, or hilariously bad.” Read along as Mr. Fisting attacks the black hole that is an album of cover tunes by Prong.