Prong

Prong
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	Heavy metal, industrial metal, groove metal, crossover thrash
Years active	1986–1997, 2002–present
Labels	Epic Records, Steamhammer Records, Locomotive Music, 13th Planet Records, SPV GmbH
Members	Tommy Victor
Past members	Ted Parsons, Mike Kirkland, Paul Raven, John Bechdel, Monte Pittman, Tony Campos, Aaron Rossi
Website	prongmusic.com

Prong is an American heavy metal band formed in New York City in 1986. The band was founded by singer and guitarist Tommy Victor, who has been the only constant member. Prong's music is a blend of industrial metal, groove metal, and crossover thrash.

History

Prong was formed in 1986 by Tommy Victor, who was then a sound engineer at the CBGB club in New York City, and bassist Mike Kirkland, who was a former member of Swans. The band released their debut album, Primitive Origins, in 1987, followed by Force Fed in 1988. Their early work was characterized by a raw, hardcore punk sound.

In 1989, Prong signed with Epic Records and released their third album, Beg to Differ, which marked a shift towards a more polished, metal-oriented sound. The album's title track and the song "Lost and Found" received significant airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball.

The band's fourth album, Prove You Wrong (1991), continued to build on their success, incorporating elements of industrial and groove metal. Prong's 1994 album, Cleansing, is often considered their breakthrough, featuring the hit single "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck".

Despite their success, Prong disbanded in 1997 due to internal conflicts and the changing musical landscape. However, they reformed in 2002 and have since released several more albums, including Scorpio Rising (2003), Power of the Damager (2007), and Zero Days (2017).

Musical Style and Influences

Prong's music is known for its aggressive guitar riffs, complex rhythms, and a blend of various metal subgenres. They have been influenced by bands such as Killing Joke, Swans, and Ministry. Their sound has evolved over the years, incorporating elements of industrial metal, groove metal, and crossover thrash.

Band Members

Current Members

• Tommy Victor – vocals, guitar (1986–1997, 2002–present)

Former Members

• Ted Parsons – drums (1987–1997)
• Mike Kirkland – bass (1986–1990)
• Paul Raven – bass (2002–2007)
• John Bechdel – keyboards (2002–2007)
• Monte Pittman – bass (2009–2011)
• Tony Campos – bass (2011–2012)
• Aaron Rossi – drums (2005–2018)

Discography

• Primitive Origins (1987)
• Force Fed (1988)
• Beg to Differ (1990)
• Prove You Wrong (1991)
• Cleansing (1994)
• Rude Awakening (1996)
• Scorpio Rising (2003)
• Power of the Damager (2007)
• Carved into Stone (2012)
• Ruining Lives (2014)
• X – No Absolutes (2016)
• Zero Days (2017)

Related Pages

• Heavy metal music
• Industrial metal
• Groove metal
• Crossover thrash
• Tommy Victor
• Epic Records
• Ministry (band)
• Danzig (band)
• Killing Joke
• Swans (band)