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".
Without Hope
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts.
The lyrics to Prong's song Without Hope convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer is overwhelmed by feelings of pressure and rage. They feel trapped in a cage and unable to forgive themselves for their mistakes. The singer seems to be punishing themselves, pounding their head against the wall and puncturing their own wounds. In the mirror, they see a bitter and apathetic man who has lost hope. The singer feels that their life is a joke and they are without hope.
The second verse continues with the theme of inner turmoil, describing the singer's desire for haste and hatred, which only exacerbate their hurt and bitterness. The singer has lost everything and feels unable to stand. Their brain is constantly tormented by painful memories and thoughts, and they cannot relax.
Overall, the lyrics to Without Hope paint a bleak picture of a person who has lost all sense of purpose and direction. The intense emotions of anger, guilt, and despair are palpable in the words, creating a sense of desperation and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
I just know its all gone wrong,
I am aware that everything has gone completely wrong, and things are not looking up.
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
I am feeling immense pressure and unable to withstand the troubles.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
I have been trapping myself in a box of fury and agony.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
I am unable to forgive myself for anything.
Pounding my head against the wall.
I am physically hurting myself in the process of dealing with my issues.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
There is no escaping the guilt and inevitable loss.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I am choosing not to confront the reality of my pain.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
When I examined myself in the reflection, what did I truly see?
One man bitter with apathy.
I am just one bitter and indifferent individual.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
The situation had become a complete farce.
But I'm not laughing.
Despite it being a joke, I am not finding it amusing.
I'm without hope.
I have lost all hope and can't see a positive future.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
I do not think things out properly and make quick decisions that lead to my downfall.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
I have an intense desire for both speed and hostility.
Its all so bitter the hurt inside.
The pain inside is incredibly bitter.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
My innermost desire is to rush into things and be full of malice.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
I have shattered and lost everything.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
My heart has been completely torn apart, and I am unable to cope.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
My brain is always tense because of the mistakes I have made.
Picking at all the torturous facts.
I am dwelling on all the distressing details.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dav2Kink
I just know its all gone wrong,
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts
75zoran
I just know its all gone wrong,
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts.
Dee Dee Baxter
Seriously I've never met anyone that knows this latter album. So good to hear again. I never heard their earlier work actually. Apparently it was thrashier, which sounds good too - will investigate!
Commoner John
Favorite song on the album.
ALEXANDRE TEIXEIRA BENJAMIN
Wonderful band!
cabalofdemons
One of my favorite bands. This is one of my favorite tracks off this disc.
Simon Schuster
Been a Prong fan for a long time, but never gave this album its due. This kicks... and a sound track for our time, too
MANASYt
Killer chorus...;)
Deaf2Demands
Killer song...
Dav2Kink
I just know its all gone wrong,
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts
furnjohn
I agree but at least their still making good music. Not all hope is lost.
75zoran
I just know its all gone wrong,
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts.