Prong & Peel

Prong was one of those bands I recall first encountering on MTV during the occasional late night watching the tail end of Headbangers Ball. By the time I had heard of them they were sporting a fatter, grime-covered sound, and sporting Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven. I found them much tighter and interesting than other metal bands, including then-kings Metallica. They had some industrial influence, but had a definite penchant for thrash that was less sloppy and more concussive.

I finally got around to picking up The Peel Sessions, which covers a short 1989 session with the late and uncanny John Peel presiding. Four tracks, 12 minutes, no filler. Just Tommy Victors strained vocals, staccato guitar riffs, and a then new band going for theirs. It is a surprisingly crisp session, with the mix being about as good as can be expected. It gives a brief glimpse into the transition from their indie releases to their stint on Epic/Sony.

The band is still going these days (and Tommy Victor has also done duty with Danzig and Ministry alongside his former bassist Raven), with a rotating cast of bassists and drummers. They are still worth listening to.