PRONG’s new album, “X – No Absolutes”, will be released on February 5 through SPV/Steamhammer as a digipak (including bonus track+poster), 2LP gatefold version (colored vinyl, CD in paper sleeve) and as a digital download.
The song “Cut And Dry”, taken from “X – No Absolutes”, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.
Comments PRONG frontman Tommy Victor: “I think you’ll find our new single, ‘Cut And Dry’, one of the most hard-hitting and intense tracks PRONG has ever released. It surely represents the pummeling fashion of our newest full length album, X – No Absolutes’, which is released next week. It’s also the first track we’ve ever done that has a dueling solo, where Dane Markanson of GLASS CLOUD and I trade riffs. I believe the lyric is timely, in accordance with ‘No Absolutes’, addressing a climate of total insecurity. Check out this sharp new PRONG. ‘Cut And Dry’. It dices and slices!”
“X – No Absolutes” track listing:
01. Ultimate Authority
02. Sense Of Ease
03. Without Words
04. Cut And Dry
05. No Absolutes
06. Do Nothing
07. Belief System
08. Soul Sickness
09. In Spite Of Hindrances
10. Ice Runs Through My Veins
11. Worth Pursuing
12. With Dignity
13. Universal Law (digipak bonus track)
Says Victor: “PRONG is excited about the upcoming release of our tenth studio release of new material, ‘X – No Absolutes’. It seems as though our recent records keep getting better and this new recording definitely appears to be a testament to this.
“PRONG has maintained aggression while tackling the challenge of creating classic songs and anthems in the past, but we have gone even a step further with this mentality on ‘No Absolutes’. Here you will find a collection of riff-intensified crushers, furious barn burners, and fist pumping sing-a-longs. Also, this record exhibits even more technical proficiency, showing progress again on all fronts. We feel the listener needs to be excited about every lyric, performance, sound, etc. for the duration of the record. This record throws a powerful punch, yet we feel it to be memorable and in demand of future listens with its energy, strong production and overall catchiness.
“Our themes on this record will certainly inspire some thought. Whether it be a dose of self discovery, a dialogue of a personal challenge or a viscous finger pointing at what we believe to be a falsehood, those attentive to messages and lyrics in general will be supplied. And we feel they will be compelled to shout aloud with, mimic a riff, sing along or cry out in pain with ‘X – No Absolutes’!”
After a self-prescribed hiatus, 2012 saw PRONG blow the hinges off the door with the release of “Carved Into Stone”. Seemingly out of nowhere, Tommy Victor and company managed to combine all the previous elements of the band’s formula: thrash, hardcore, industrial metal, etc. with a new urgency and angst that struck a deep nerve with the band’s loyal fan-base and beyond.
The band marched onwards with 2014’s highly acclaimed “Ruining Lives”, which spawned a number of instant classics. “Turnover”, “The Barriers” and the title track became staples in their live set when embarking on a bone-breaking schedule of concerts around the world in support of the record. A video for “Remove, Separate Self” was released creating even more interest in this significant recording.
Recorded over the summer of 2014 and released in early 2015, PRONG’s covers album “Songs From The Black Hole” was loved by fans and critics alike. Always game to make the unexpected move, the album featured songs from artists as diverse as HÜSKER DÜ, BAD BRAINS, BLACK FLAG, THE SISTERS OF MERCY and Neil Young.
After yet another headline tour, it was straight back to the studio for another studio album. Just days after mixing was completed, PRONG went on the road with DANZIG and SUPERJOINT in North America and released the first single “Ultimate Authority” on the day the tour began.
“X – No Absolutes” is PRONG at their very best. The sheer intensity and ferocity of the albums opening triumvirate “Ultimate Authority”, “Sense Of Ease” and “Without Words” leaves the listener gasping for air. The title track is crunchy and catchy at the same time. “Do Nothing” may be as close as you will ever hear PRONG get to a ballad and shows the enormous progress and confidence Victor has made vocally. It is hard to find a weak spot here, notably Victor mentions that “sequencing the album was a difficult task; every song is so strong in its own way.”
Again produced by Tommy Victor, this time with trusted collaborator Chris Collier as co-producer and engineer, “X – No Absolutes” also broadens the horizon sonically.
With over 55 headline shows already announced for right after the album release, PRONG can seem to do everything but stand still.
Photo credit: Neil Zlozower
Source: Blabbermouth
