Concert Review: Prong At Backstage Live San Antonio. Tommy Victor’s genre-defying metal act rip through a satisfying setlist.

[rating=5]

Prong have always been a metal act hard to characterize; morphing from thrash to post-punk, industrial, and groove metal, they’re the perfect band for the metal head that gets bored easily. Their ability to mine many variations on a theme has given them a most diverse discography.

The band (of which frontman/guitarist Tommy Victor remains the sole original member and songwriter) played San Antonio’s Backstage Live in support of their new album ‘Ruining Lives’, but their set covered wide terrain.

Click here for my Ruining Lives review

After three local openers (the best being the whip cracking Paegan, the weirdest being a band with a singer in a zoot-suit and an out-of-step backup dancer ), Prong took the stage with old-school classic ‘For Dear Life’ followed up by classic thrasher ‘Beg To Differ.’

Victor is one of the most distinctive metal guitar players, and a LOUD one at that. His razor-blade transistor tone cut through the air, with all his squealing pinch harmonics and intricate riffing intact.

Click here for my 2013 exclusive interview with Tommy Victor

Much of the set drew from their now 20-year-old industrial classic ‘Cleansing’, featuring their two biggest hits: ‘Snap Your Finger, Snap Your Neck’ and ‘Whose Fist Is It Anyways.’

But not resting on their laurels, they drew off several tracks from ‘Ruining’ as well as 2012’s ‘Carved Into Stone‘.

They closed the set with the seismic ‘Prove You Wrong’. It was a solid set that left ears ringing and fists pumping, and proving that Prong are one of the most underrated and powerful metal bands around.

To catch Prong on their U.S. tour, click here for full dates. I also have iTunes and Amazon links for ‘Ruining Lives’ after the posted set-list.

PRONG’s BACKSTAGE LIVE SET LIST:

For Dear Life 

Beg To Differ 

Irrelevant Thoughts 

Unconditional 

Eternal Heat 

 Lost And Found 

Ruining Lives 

 Cut-Rate 

Rude Awakening 

 Turnover 

Another Worldly Device  

Revenge…Best Served Cold 

Whose Fist Is This Anyway? 

Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck 

 

Encore:

Power Of The Damager 

Prove You Wrong 

[amazon_image id=”B00IOCRPPY” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Ruining Lives (2LP+CD)[/amazon_image]