Scorpio Rising

Album Review

The gritty guitars, the stop/start rhythms, the anger and the vicious ill will are all back in Prong's Scorpio Rising. Now, who forgot the songs? Minus the hooks, Prong just gets by on their ferociousness, keeping their return album from being a total washout. Eight years without a studio album made the hardcore itchy with anticipation, and for them, Scorpio Rising might be just volatile enough. With the album, Prong's sound has become slower. It's sludgy but with quite the rumble underneath. Tommy Victor's voice has dropped in pitch too, becoming a roaring howl that's darn near otherworldly. The opening "Detached" holds plenty of promise, but one rumbling number after another with nothing to grip on to weakens the overall punch. With a bluesy beat, "Entrance to the Eclipse" gives the listener a much needed break from the stomping, but the following "Letter to a Friend" is way too close to the band's big hit, "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck," to be considered fresh. If it weren't for "Letter to a Friend," you'd swear this new, slower band had no interest in returning to the sing-along-with-Prong days, but they should consider it. With their serious bite still intact, it's great to have them back. A gripping tune or two would have made it all the better.