Prong – “Ruining Lives” [Album Review]

As a long time fan of Prong, ever since their formation in the late ’80s, it was with great anticipation that I sat down to delve into their newest effort, Ruining Lives. I loved the 2012 release, Carved In Stone, and I had assumed it would be hard to follow up on it… man was I wrong. Bottom line, the masters of groove-infused industrial metal have created what I think is easily one of their best records to date.

With its catchy arrangement and meaty guitar riffs (which provides the perfect backdrop for Tommy Victor’s unmistakably powerful yet melodic vocal lines), “Turnover” kicks things into high gear from the very start. As with most Prong records, the groove is established from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the very last note. It is so hypnotic and mesmerizing that the tunes burrowed into my head and remained with me throughout the day; hours after turning off the player the driving, staccato rhythm of “Remove, Separate Self” was still bouncing around inside my skull.

Ruining Lives is a fantastic, fast and furious tour de force that, top to bottom, does not disappoint. It is great to see Prong still cranking out solid, relevant metal. This record is sure to please older fans (like myself) as well as the newer generation not yet familiar with the group.

Track Listing:

01. Turnover
02. The Barriers
03. Windows Shut
04. Remove, Separate Self
05. Ruining Lives
06. Absence Of Light
07. The Book Of Change
08. Self Will Run Riot
09. Come to Realize
10. Chamber Of Thought
11. Limitations And Validations

Run Time: 41:55
Release Date: April 28, 2014

Check out the song “Revenge…Best Served Cold”