CD review PRONG ‘Act of Defiance’ (EP)

Tommy Victor and band mates are hard workers. The Groove Metal pioneers don’t merely write good songs, they also take care about all band related issues themselves again. This certainly adds to Prong’s image of being one of the real authentic bands. Prong is Prong, something’s also reflected on the new EP.

To bridge the waiting time between two longplayers the guys decided to release a 5-track EP, featuring two new song plus three live recordings. ‘Age of Defiance’ leads off things. The title tracks is build on a grooving riff and reflects the typical Prong sound. Tommy Victor’s guitar play and vocals are a strong asset of Prong’s music, coming also back in this opener. Equipped with a good sense for melodies and a driving beat the start into the EP is a good one.

Riffpower is a strong factor with ‘The End of Sanity’ too. The song reminds of the earlier Prong days, a time when records like ‘Cleansing’ acted as the metallic counterpart to Grunge.

The three live recordings take listener back to these days in the early ‘90’s. ‘Rude Awakening’ and ‘Another Worldly Devise’ are excellent songs with the fabulous ‘Cut-Rate’ being the highlight. The songs have been recorded in 2015 in Berlin. The only thing that surprises is that no audience can be heard, which is weird. Where are the fans on these three live recordings?

Besides this little confusing side-note ‘Age of Defiance’ is a passionately done EP that helps fans to handle the waiting time for the next longplayer. If the first two songs are an indication where things are heading to, we can all look forward to a new longplayer with excitement.