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".
However It May End
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beyond today
It's looking like a lost cause beyond today
Ah, call of confidence, selling your precedent
Stay in your prison state of mind
With due prominence, no letter of consequence
There's no future to rely
Designs that confine, pressure 'til the end
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
Ah, it's looking like a lost cause
Beyond today
It's looking like a lost cause beyond today
Have no evidence, and genuine my defense
Our clever voices will align
We'll let in the presidents
Becoming evidence
All gone, eventual demise
Designs that confine, pressure 'til the end
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
However it may end
Pressure 'til the end
Never took a damn
Forever took to them
However it may end
More scars appear on my face
Causing more scars to the future state
A lost cause of the past
Looking like a lost cause in the end
Designs that confine, pressure 'til the end
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
Designs that confine
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
Ah, it's looking like a lost cause
Beyond today
The lyrics to Prong's song "However It May End" convey a sense of frustration and hopelessness in the face of a seemingly impossible situation. The repeated phrase "It's looking like a lost cause" reflects the feeling of defeat and pessimism. The line "Beyond today" suggests that the problem at hand goes beyond just the present moment and extends into the future.
The lyrics also touch on themes of imprisonment and confinement. The lines "Stay in your prison state of mind" and "Designs that confine, pressure 'til the end" imply a sense of being trapped and restricted by external forces. The phrase "no future to rely" further emphasizes the lack of hope or prospects for improvement.
However, amidst the bleakness, there is a glimmer of defiance and resistance. The line "Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end" suggests a refusal to be defeated and a determination to challenge the circumstances, even if the outcome is uncertain. The lyrics express a belief in standing up against the odds and refusing to conform to societal expectations.
In the final verse, the lyrics become more introspective, with the mention of "scars appear on my face" symbolizing both physical and emotional wounds. The repetition of "A lost cause" reinforces the theme of hopelessness and resignation.
Overall, "However It May End" captures a sense of frustration, confinement, and defiance in the face of a seemingly insurmountable situation. It reflects the struggle to maintain hope and fight back despite the overwhelming challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah it's looking like a lost cause
The situation seems hopeless
Beyond today
Not just for today, but for the future as well
It's looking like a lost cause beyond today
The situation seems hopeless both now and in the future
Ah, call of confidence, selling your precedent
An appeal for trust, selling past successes
Stay in your prison state of mind
Remain trapped in a mentality that restricts freedom
With due prominence, no letter of consequence
Despite having importance, there is no significant impact
There's no future to rely
There is no optimistic outlook to depend on
Designs that confine, pressure 'til the end
Restrictive plans that exert pressure until the very end
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
We will reject division and opposition, regardless of the outcome
Have no evidence, and genuine my defense
Lack of proof, but authentic in my argument
Our clever voices will align
Our intelligent and persuasive voices will come together
We'll let in the presidents
We will allow the leaders in
Becoming evidence
Becoming proof of our cause
All gone, eventual demise
Everything gone, leading to the eventual end
Pressure 'til the end
Continuously applying pressure until the very end
Never took a damn
Never cared about the consequences
Forever took to them
Permanently affected them
More scars appear on my face
Additional wounds and struggles are visible on me
Causing more scars to the future state
Resulting in further damage to the future situation
A lost cause of the past
A hopeless situation from the past
Looking like a lost cause in the end
Seemingly hopeless until the very end
Designs that confine
Limiting plans
Polarize, we'll defy, however it may end
We will reject division and opposition, regardless of the outcome
Ah, it's looking like a lost cause
The situation seems hopeless
Beyond today
Not just for today, but for the future as well
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chistopher Michael Collier, Thomas Michael Victor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind