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Rating: IMPOSSIBLE.
It is indeed impossible that a review of “Rude Awakening” by Prong is missing. So, I will take care of it. Ok, let's start with a bit of history, I know some people don’t like history, which is boring, but it’s necessary, otherwise one might wonder: “Who the heck are these Prong?” Prong is an industrial metal band formed in 1986 in New York, founded by Tommy Victor (guitar, vocals) and Ted Parsons (drums). There wasn’t a true permanent bassist in the band.
Their original sound, composed of a beautiful groove, led them to be considered the heirs of Killing Joke. After five albums, they confirmed these considerations by recording what would be recognized as the band's masterpiece and a metal masterpiece, "Rude Awakening" indeed. In this work and the previous one, they collaborated with ex-Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven.
"Rude Awakening" is a concentration of pure anger, alienation, inexhaustible energy, and a strong nihilism inferior (if not equal) only to those of the “fathers” of industrial Swans. In its grooves, you can already hear the sound that will characterize the so-called “Nu-Metal,” a term I really don’t like, just like the music. However, this album might not be appealing to the purists of METAL (sacred name) precisely for the merits I extolled, which are not present in other metal masterpieces. Let's move on to the tracks that compose it, the album starts off strong with “Controller,” which makes it clear what it’s made of; it then continues with “Caprice,” whose introduction features beautiful keyboards, perfectly controlled, never overpowering the other instruments, by the talented Charlie Clouser, just like in “Close the Door,” a standout track of the entire album along with the title–track, “Dark Signs,” with its heavy groove, the stunning and furious “Slicing,” and with the true gem, “Innocence Gone,” the summary of Prong's entire career, the ultimate example of post–rock, in which Victor's singing becomes more nihilistic than ever.
In short, an unmissable record, one of the most innovative works of the 90s and industrial metal.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Caprice (02:46)
Put me right through the ringer run around with eyes on whatever.
Cut me right down to half of a member.
Mended back given no hope.
Scheming minds new intentions
leave it broke flat begging for more
You've made up your mind
Whatever comes to your head can never rely (on nothing)
Everything points to the wrong direction.
Everything leading to any early decline.
Can't take this any longer
I'll tell you right now, hate's on the rise.
Just can't deal with anymore wavering
Can't fit into anymore lies.
Take your eyes to a brand new picture.
Reach for one more impulse buy.
It's me the loser, did everything wrong.
Go ahead with all your craving.
Go ahead yearn for more.
03 Rude Awakening (04:18)
Another rude awakening
The hard life that's been our school
More of a cruel day's reckonings
Our prime time used up too soon
There is no kindness to waste
Why help those crying for more?
It spins you around, takes you for a ride
What is the point to even try?
Somehow got to learn to accept the rejection
The tired thoughts from troubling
A weary mind from worrying
Your constant fears upon wakening
Your real life left in your dreams
There is no kindness to waste
Why help those crying for more?
It spins you around, takes you for a ride
What is the point to even try?
Somehow got to learn to accept the rejection
Accept the rejection
Accept the rejection
(Yeah)
Another
Another
Another rude awakening
The hard life that's been our school
More of a cruel day's reckonings
Our prime time used up too soon
There is no kindness to waste
Why help those crying for more?
It spins you around, takes you for a ride
What is the point to even try?
Somehow, some way, got to learn to accept the rejection
Accept the rejection
06 Avenue of the Finest (03:37)
Why should I devalue my position? Do I need to be a part of the fold? Don't need any sort of reason. I'll just go out and follow my own path. Take note of this: Anyone can trip. Take note of this: You can walk with the best. Walking with the finest. Why should I sell myself short? Should I lower my ideals and standards? Must I settle for hand me downs? I deserve the best my mind can do. I can do. I think I know which road to go. It leads up to the very top. I don't need your sense of direction. You can just stumble on and on.
08 Without Hope (03:12)
I just know its all gone wrong,
feeling all the pressures can't weather the storm.
'Cause I kept myself in a cage all wound up and filled up with rage.
Forgive oneself of nothing at all
Pounding my head against the wall.
Guilt ridden and bound to lose.
Puncture my wounds, won't see the truth.
I looked in the mirror, what did I see?
One man bitter with apathy.
The whole thing turned out to be a joke.
But I'm not laughing.
I'm without hope.
Its never well thought out, just my instant demise.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
It's all so bitter the hurt inside.
Haste and hatred my inner desire.
Ruptured I've lost it all.
My heart ripped out can't stand at all.
'Cause I've cost my brain to never relax.
Picking at all the torturous facts.
09 Mansruin (03:29)
My whole life counting dimes worried about uncertainty.
So I roll the dice before I die, maybe get a little for me.
I bet it, bet it all
Threw everything into a pile.
Regret it?
Got nothing at all, no guarantees, no pieces of the pie.
Got the eyes on you, black eyes on you
Ruin it for you if they could.
Eyes on you, black eyes on you
Mansruin for his own good.
High life all the highlights covered on the plays of the day.
Baked out, burnt right out of it,
breath fried beyond repair.
I tasted it, devoured it, ballooned right out of sight.
A done deal dealt out by fate scored myself a bite of nonlife
Fucked out, fucked out of everything,
drained at the end of each day.
A red cent, no pennies from heaven taken for a chump for life.
10 Innocence Gone (03:10)
I had a new premonition.
I have found the nonlight.
I've had a brand new renewal of sight.
Do you need a new genuflection?
Do you wanna make a different pact?
You've got to get in with the facts.
It's the end-innocence gone.
You're whole meaning becomes undone.
Are you waiting for your resurrection?
Do you wanna make a different pact?
You've got to get in with the facts.
You've made an art of treachery.
You can snake right out of anything.
I've said I won't do not a thing.
To the double negative you can only agree.
11 Dark Signs (03:21)
Be careful what you want, it may be what you get.
Careful of yourself, you may just kill yourself.
Watch out for all the ruin that you ask for.
Being trapped below, is that what you need
Careful what you get, it may just get you back.
How much more?
Relive the nightmares of the past.
Think twice about the ruin that you ask for.
Still ignoring all the warnings you see?
A lifetime wronged you.
Dark Signs warned you.
Feel me self destruct
You're gonna get exactly what you're gonna get.
You suffer more and more and then you blame yourself.
Those signposts that point to disaster
ignore the signals, you get what you see.
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