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".
The Banishment
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can only watch, grieve and pity
Stare at stupid likes, wonder at people's smiles
Laugh at any call
Call for unity
Smashed by surprise falls, slashed by irrelevant scolds
I can never heal: who can know bravery?
Messages that make rage from those who think they're straight
Participate in denial: Validate their luxuries
'Cause I'm bored
So I left
No reason for me to hang around this place
I get more and more stress
Nothing anyone can offer more or less
Done grieving, closer to the end
Done grieving, closer to the end
Hail all that is vain, exhibiting no refrain
Eventually condemned for things unholy
Don't request a vote, no confidence to uphold
Refusal to be a pawn, to your insecurity
Selling another point, best thing to avoid
Everything of this world becomes cruel and dirty
Passion and desire; obsession of a style
Capitalistic shrines of all vain glory
'Cause I'm bored
So I left
No reason for me to hang around this place
I get more and more stress
Nothing anyone can offer more or less
Done grieving, closer to the end
Done grieving, closer to the end
Smashed by surprise falls, slashed by irrelevant scolds
I can never heal: who can know bravery?
Drinking away the pain, crying until it rains
No reason to live or die with dignity
Put myself to rest with the curse I've always been with
A laughable life, mundane with drudgery
Self inflicted wreck, thoughts continue inject
My spirituality, keeping God away from me
Banished from this world, banished from it's toil
I can only watch, grieve and pity
Stare at stupid likes, wonder at people's smiles
Laugh at any call, the call for unity
'Cause I'm bored
So I left
No reason for me to hang around this place
I get more and more stress
Nothing anyone can offer more or less
Done grieving, closer to the end
Done grieving, closer to the end
Done grieving, closer to the end
Closer to the end
Done grieving, closer to the end
Feel like not breathing,
How much more can I stand?
How much more can I stand?
Done grieving, how much more can I stand?
How much more can I stand?
Done grieving, closer to the end
Closer to the end
Closer to the end
Closer to the end
The lyrics in Prong's "The Banishment" convey feelings of isolation, disenchantment, and frustration with the world. The singer describes feeling banished from society and observing the meaningless behaviors of others. The mention of "messages that make rage from those who think they're straight" suggests a conflict with societal norms or values. The singer feels smashed and slashed by life's challenges, unable to heal or find bravery. The final lines suggest a desire to escape the weariness of existence and reach an end to the grieving cycle.
The song appears to explore themes of alienation, detachment, and existential despair. The repetition of "closer to the end" emphasizes a sense of finality or mortality. The call for unity may indicate a desire for human connection or a recognition of the lack thereof.
Line by Line Meaning
Banished from this world, and from its toil
I am exiled from society and its struggles
I can only watch, grieve and pity
I can do nothing but observe, mourn, and feel sorry
Stare at stupid likes, wonder at people's smiles
I observe the superficiality of others and question their happiness
Laugh at any call
I ridicule any attempt at connection or unity
Call for unity
Despite my disdain, I recognize the need for collective action
Smashed by surprise falls, slashed by irrelevant scolds
I am hurt by unexpected setbacks and meaningless criticisms
I can never heal: who can know bravery?
My pain is too great to recover from, and I doubt anyone can be truly courageous
Messages that make rage from those who think they're straight
Propaganda angers me, especially from those who believe they are in the right
Participate in denial: Validate their luxuries
Others' denial and shallow pleasures are supported by my compliance
'Cause I'm bored
So I left
No reason for me to hang around this place
My restlessness compels me to leave without any motivation to remain
I get more and more stress
Nothing anyone can offer more or less
Done grieving, closer to the end
My anxiety is increasing, and I am beyond any help or solace
Hail all that is vain, exhibiting no refrain
I salute all that is superficial and without limits
Eventually condemned for things unholy
Ultimately, society will judge and punish those who act outside of its norms
Don't request a vote, no confidence to uphold
Refusal to be a pawn, to your insecurity
I reject the notion of democracy and refuse to be used as a tool to mollify others' fears
Selling another point, best thing to avoid
Persuasion is pointless when everything is corrupt and immoral
Everything of this world becomes cruel and dirty
The world is filled with suffering and degradation
Passion and desire; obsession of a style
Capitalistic shrines of all vain glory
Obsessed with appearance and profit, society worships materialism
Drinking away the pain, crying until it rains
No reason to live or die with dignity
Trying to numb my suffering with alcohol and tears, I feel no purpose or worth
Put myself to rest with the curse I've always been with
A laughable life, mundane with drudgery
Ending my life is the only solution to the torment I've always experienced, as it feels like a bad joke and every day is filled with hardship
Self inflicted wreck, thoughts continue inject
My spirituality, keeping God away from me
My own destructive behavior and negative thoughts keep me from any spiritual consolation, and I push away any notion of a higher power
'Cause I'm bored
So I left
No reason for me to hang around this place
I get more and more stress
Nothing anyone can offer more or less
Done grieving, closer to the end
My ennui and despair drive me away from society even more, and I am completely hopeless and alone
Done grieving, closer to the end
Feel like not breathing,
How much more can I stand?
I am finally accepting my fate, though I feel like I can't bear much more
Done grieving, how much more can I stand?
Though I've finished processing my grief, I still question my ability to endure
Closer to the end
I am nearing my final moments
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leon Drake
I will never understand how this genius never sold a billion records! !!!!!!
PanterAmetal100
Surprisingly Prong's music has a healing effect
DR PASTOR MARTIN OSEMPA
Herb recommended...
tarell676
It's a shame these guys arn't better known then they are. They started something really good!
Snake Pliskin
The 3 chord riff in the verse is pure genius
sonsolsylo
Exactly what I was thinking. Sometimes less is more or in Tommy's case, genius is genius!
Mr. Horndust
This is awesome! Prong never gets old.
dmplaura
One of the most underrated bands ever. Amazing stuff!
Chris Aikens
wow,...truly just one GREAT underated band.
Wesley Sixx
I just can't stop listening to that!!! The Guitar Riffs are killers. Awesome like should be.