Prong is a metal band from New York City, New York, US, formed in 1986. Pro… Read Full Bio ↴Prong is a metal band from New York City, New York, US, formed in 1986. Prong had two independent releases, Primitive Origins and Force Fed. The albums attracted the attention of Epic Records, which signed the trio in 1989. The group disbanded in 1997 after the Rude Awakening tour, but re-formed in 2003. A pioneer of the urban scene, Prong is fronted by Tommy Victor.
Prong was founded in 1986 by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor (then a soundman at New York City's renowned CBGB's). With bassist Mike Kirkland (formely of NYHC band Damage and doorman at CBGB’s) and ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons, Prong released two independent CDs that were noted for their brutal hardcore sound.

Epic Records saw the band's potential and signed them in 1989. Prong's major label debut album Beg to Differ, was released in 1990.

In the following year, Kirkland left the band and was replaced by Ex-Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Troy Gregory. Prong issued their fourth release Prove You Wrong which saw the band experiment with programming and electronic samples while still retaining an aggressive yet melodic sensibility.

By 1994, Troy Gregory was out of the band and was replaced by Paul Raven (bassist) and John Bechdel (keyboard), both from Killing Joke and Murder, Inc. The new line up released Cleansing (Prong’s 5th major release). With a strong industrial sound that still managed to be hard and heavy, Cleansing contained songs that are still considered Prong classics ("Broken Peace" and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck") and is Prong’s most successful release to date. The videos for these two songs became staples of MTV’s legendary Headbangers Ball.

Prong's sixth album Rude Awakening was released in 1996. The album was not as successful as the last three albums. Shortly thereafter Parsons left the band to join Godflesh. Tommy Victor left New York and moved to Los Angeles. As the band Prong sat idle, Tommy Victor worked with legends of the rock world, including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, celldweller and Glenn Danzig.

In 2002, Victor re-formed Prong with bassist Brian Perry, drummer Dan Laudo and guitarist Monte Pittman (Madonna). In 2002, after a 42-show American tour that was recorded for a live CD (100% Live, Locomotive Music) Prong entered the studio and recorded a new CD titled Scorpio Rising which was received with mixed responses.

Victor played on and off again with Glen Danzig from 1998 -2005 in between time with Prong. His final goal of playing and writing on a Danzig record was met with Circle of Snakes in 2004.

Prong released a live 2-disc DVD in 2005 entitled "The Vault" which features performances from the Hulstsfred and With Full Force festivals and a full show in Amsterdam. This disc has Mike Longworth on bass as well, who later replaced Perry. As a result of the drum performance on Scorpio Rising , band members Tommy Victor and Monte Pittman decided a change needed to be made. This resulted in the firing of Dan Laudo and the enlistment Aaron Rossi, who used to be in the bands Strife (Victory Records), Shelter (Century Media Records), John 5 (Shrapnel Records), and Ankla (Bieler Bros. Records)

Victor and Raven joined Ministry in 2005 to write and tour in support of their album Rio Grande Blood (2006). They were nominated for a Grammy in 2007 for the song Senior Peligro in the "Best Metal Performance" category. The two also appear on Ministry's follow up album The Last Sucker (2007), although in a more limited capacity.

On June 4th, 2007, Prong posted a MySpace bulletin stating that they were recording in El Paso, Texas. The band left Locomotive Music, and were signed to Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, who released their latest album Power of the Damager on October 2, 2007.

The band embarked on the "Slicing Across America" and "Slicing Across Europe" tours supporting Power of the Damager in 2007 and early 2008. Joining Tommy Victor in the current live membership of the band is bassist Monte Pittman and drummer Aaron Rossi.

Paul Raven died of an apparent heart attack in his sleep on October 20, 2007 at the age of 46. He was recording with French recording artists Treponem Pal on their new album with Ted Parsons at the time of his death.

Aaron Rossi was joining Ministry as their new drummer on the "C U LaTour" which started in March 2008.

In February 2008, Headbanger's Ball premiered the video "Power Of The Damager".

CLIMATE-CONTROL
Prong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A Plan For Power
Moves To Oppress
Excludes Poverty
Sports Success
Obliterates Obstinance
Ignore Any Ugliness
Maintain War Mind Readiness
Propagate Loyalty

Infuse Modification
If Not Removed, Feed Their Level Of Fear
Allow Them To Question, Answer: Hold To Secrecy
New Change In Climate
Embroils This Year

Heat Like The Ovens
Can Nature Be Broken?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Prong’s song “Climate Control” speak about the dangers of those in power manipulating the world’s climate. The song communicates a sense of urgency and warning to those who would ignore or be complicit in these actions. The lyrics start by mentioning a plan for power that moves to oppress, while excluding poverty and supporting sports success. It is an oppressive ideology that ignores any ugliness and maintains war mind readiness. The leaders of this ideology propagate loyalty and infuse modification, while feeding the people’s level of fear. The lyrics also mention secrecy and the importance of questioning this plan.

Towards the end of the song, the lyrics speak about a new change in climate that embroils this year, and a heat like ovens that poses the question: can nature be broken? These lyrics are particularly poignant in the current political and environmental climate. The issue of climate change has become increasingly important and urgent, and these lyrics serve as a warning to those who would ignore it. The song speaks to the power dynamics at play in the world and how they can act to suppress truth, ignore environmental catastrophes, and promote a dangerous status quo.

Line by Line Meaning

A Plan For Power
The intention is to gain control

Moves To Oppress
This power seeks to suppress and control others

Excludes Poverty
Only those in power will benefit from this plan

Sports Success
Those who comply with the plan will be rewarded with success

Obliterates Obstinance
Those who resist will be eliminated

Ignore Any Ugliness
The consequences of this plan will be overlooked

Maintain War Mind Readiness
Be prepared for conflict to defend this plan

Propagate Loyalty
Encourage blind devotion to this plan

Infuse Modification
Change society to align with this plan

If Not Removed, Feed Their Level Of Fear
If dissenters are not removed, use fear to keep them in line

Allow Them To Question, Answer: Hold To Secrecy
Dissenters can ask questions, but the answers will be kept secret