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".

Denial
Prong Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Staying With This Life To Lead

Attempting No True Test

Sticking With Some Sick Ideal
While Others Sell Out Fast

Need A Bit Of Flagellation

Need To Scour The Depths
Can't Exercise Authority

Clamped Down Controlled Will

Denial, No Discipline
Refrainment Abstinence

Question Convenience

Consuming All Its Produce
Ingesting Some Corrupt Concept

Pulling Thoughts And Conscience

Confirming All Unnoticed

The Fulfillment Truly Lies
In What Must Be Suppressed

Subjugating Passion

Leaves Power Unprofessed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Prong's song Denial speak about a person who is sticking with their own sick ideal while everyone else is selling out fast. They are trying to stay with this life to lead, however, they are not attempting any true test. The person is in need of a bit of flagellation and needs to scour their depths, but they cannot exercise any authority.

The lines "denial, no discipline" and "refrainment abstinence" indicate that the singer is struggling with denial and lacks discipline, which is leading to self-restraint. The person is also questioning convenience and consuming some corrupt concept, which is pulling their thoughts and conscience to confirm all unnoticed. The fulfillment truly lies in what must be suppressed, and subjugating passion frees up the power that was previously unprofessed.

Overall, the lyrics of Denial speak about a person's struggle to stick with their own ideals while others around them are selling out. The song touches upon the theme of denial and self-restraint while hinting at the importance of suppressing passion.

Line by Line Meaning

Staying With This Life To Lead
I am accepting the current state of my life and decisions as the path I must lead.

Attempting No True Test
I am avoiding facing any obstacles or challenges that may challenge my beliefs.

Sticking With Some Sick Ideal, While Others Sell Out Fast
I am sticking with my unhealthy ideal, while others are able to change for a healthier, better purpose.

Need A Bit Of Flagellation
I feel the need to punish myself as a form of self-discipline.

Need To Scour The Depths, Can't Exercise Authority
I need to introspect and analyze my innermost thoughts, but I am unable to control them.

Clamped Down Controlled Will
I am suppressing my true desires and willpower.

Denial, No Discipline, Refrainment Abstinence
I am in denial of my own lack of self-discipline and I am abstaining from behaviors that could help me improve.

Question Convenience
I am questioning whether the easy way is always the right way for me.

Consuming All Its Produce, Ingesting Some Corrupt Concept
I am allowing myself to consume everything around me, including corrupt ideas and beliefs.

Pulling Thoughts And Conscience, Confirming All Unnoticed
I am suppressing my own thoughts and conscience, without realizing that this behavior goes against my beliefs.

The Fulfillment Truly Lies, In What Must Be Suppressed
I believe that true satisfaction comes from suppressing my own desires and failing to meet my own needs.

Subjugating Passion, Leaves Power Unprofessed
By suppressing my own passions and desires, I am failing to harness my true power and potential.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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