PRONG - Power Of The Damager

Posted: 01/26/08

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Modern Metal

Released: 10/02/07

Label URL: www.prongmusic.com

Artist URL: www.thirteenthplanet.com

1/2

Prong has delivered some infectious metal over the years - most notably "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" from Cleansing back in 1994.  I first became aware of the band when their videos for "Beg To Differ" (1990) and "Prove You Wrong" (1991) appeared on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.  Their appearance on the scene marked a change in what was popular - hair metal and plain' ol' metal was giving way to bands like Prong.  Their sound and image was grittier and had industrial elements, but they still had a sense of melody and concentrated on chorus driven music with solos, unlike what is in fashion today.

Power Of The Damager is Prong's first new studio in 5 years and it returns the band to what they do best - bottom heavy, riff-infused, contemporary sounding metal.  Tommy Victor's tough vocals are in fine form and melodic in comparison to today's Drano-drinking belcher's of the modern era.  The guitar sound is biting, chunky, and often fast as hell ("3rd Option").

The Bloody Truth: Power Of The Damager does not have any song that jumps off the disc quite the way "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" did off of Cleansing.  Yet, it is a consistent, solid effort.  The band's sound is precise and your head will bob throughout.  The band's sound is still in fashion and should appeal to fans as diverse as Disturbed and Overklll, as there are modern, industrial and thrash metal vibes throughout.  A solid return to form that does Prong's history justice.