It’s been four years since heavy metal stalwarts Prong released their acclaimed Age of Defiance EP, and this fall, they make their eagerly anticipated return with the release of their 13th studio album, State of Emergency, out October 6th, 2023 through Steamhammer/SPV.
The earned experience of having sat at the forefront of the heavy metal scene in the US and around the world for many decades now has given Tommy Victor and the band the foresight to know what’s ahead, and to and to keep churning out that impeccable recipe of punk, metal, post-punk noise, doom, blues and thrash that makes up Prong‘s sound.
State of Emergency is a furious tableau of East Coast aggression, enveloped in that classic Prong sound that never goes out of style. The album’s first official single, Non-Existence, is a perfect picture of its overall sound.
About the track, Prong founder Tommy Victor comments, “Non-Existence’, with its techno-style noise guitar that’s omnipresent on this album, is a bit like my retrospective glance at Rude Awakening.”
Watch the lyric video for, Non-Existence, below.
Commenting on his artistic approach, he says: “I like all kinds of music. This record totally reflects that because it covers lots of different angles. At the same time, State Of Emergency is very guitar-oriented and a typical example of my style.'”
Produced by the skillful hands of legendary producer Steve Evetts (Sepultura, The Dillinger Escape Plan), State of Emergency surprises on the post-punk track Disconnected and then grooves on the title track. Originally released as a standalone single in early 2023, Breaking Point takes no prisoners with honest lyrics and cutting attitude, while hard hitting The Descent is a lightning quick, classic ripper.
Back (NYC) has Victor saying: “To me it’s as if Jimmy Page wrote a song playing through Dimebag’s amplifier, with Henry Rollins singing. Kind of a weird experiment for sure.”
The album closes with a cover of Working Man, by the legendary Rush: “Rush was the first power trio I ever saw live and I was blown away by them. Working Man is so simple and it’s so heavy. I also love the lyric. I thought it would be great tuned down a bit and slowed down, and I think we nailed it.”
State of Emergency arrives perfectly in time for Prongs‘s upcoming headline tour and subsequent November dates with Life of Agony in Europe. See tour dates below.
State of Emergency Track List:
1 The Descent
2 State of Emergency
3 Breaking Point
4 Non-Existence
5 Light Turns Black
6 Who Told Me
7 Obeisance
8 Disconnected
9 Compliant
10 Back (NYC)
11 Working Man (Rush Cover)
State Of Emergency will be available on Steamhammer/SPV on CD, LP and for digital download.
Prong Tour Dates 2023:
August
4th- US-East Rutherford – MetLife Stadium (Parking Lot @ Metallica concert)
11- BE-Kortrijk – Alcatraz Open Air
12- DE-Weinheim – Cafe Central
13- DE-Cologne – Gebäude 9 (Rockpalast Recording)
15- DE-Magdeburg – Factory
16- DE-Hanover – Musikzentrum
17- DE-Lingen – Alter Schlachthof
18- DE-Essen – Turock
19- NL-Eindhoven – Dynamo Metal Fest
w/ Life Of Agony:
November:
1- DE-Cologne – Carlswerk Victoria
3- DK-Copenhagen – Pumpehuset
4- SE-Gothenburg – Brewhouse
6- NO-Oslo – John Dee
7- SE-Stockholm – Slagt Kyrkan
9- DE-Leipzig – Täubchenthal
10- CZ-Brno – Freda
11- SK-Kosice – Collosseum
13- AT-Linz – Posthof
14- AT-Graz – PPC
15- AT-Innsbruck – Olympia World
17- BE-Ghent – Vooruit
18- NL-Klokgebouw – Helldorado Festival
Prong online: Website, Twitter (X), Facebook and Instagram.
One Response
Nice! I only have about four of their albums, but will probably be picking up a copy of this ASAP. Saw them once a long ass time ago, open for Sepultura and Pantera. One of the best shows I’ve ever been too. Great band, I got a lot of catching up to do. Their last full length was really good, I’m sure this one will be too.