Customer Reviews

Rude Awakening

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Prong fans seem to be pretty intense when it comes to their Prong fix. I am one of those types who loved Prong so much that it hurt.

So when this album came out, I was estatic and rushed out to buy it. And I was not dissapointed. The electronic and industrial vibe mixed with our familiar Prong sound was music to my ears literally. And to this day I still love this album.

What I found the most interesting was that, the first song, "Controller" was actually a song Tommy had written and performed with Argyle Park for their album "Misguided". I had loved Argyle Park for a while at this point and found it interesting that I never caught the connection between them and Tommy.

Regardless, if you like your music to have energy and soul, make sure to get Rude Awakening. And be sure to check out Argyle Park, Circle of Dust as well.

Prong's CLEANSING is the definitive Prong album, and with cuts like "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck", Prong defined the importance of metal in the rock genre. No one had any doubt that CLEANSING was a powerful record, complete with heavy riffs, first-rate drumwork, and throbbing and tuneful bass. If you thought Prong could not match that album, RUDE AWAKENING is nearly just like it's predecessor: heavy, uncompromising metal that's in-your-face and downright brutal. Although some of the album doesn't seem as heavy, the production work of Terry Date only helps to intensify Tommy Victor's guitar.

The title track is without a doubt one of the best tracks on the album, and it's cutting shards of guitar and Tommy's vocals, along with Ted Parson's excellent drum fills and Paul Raven's tuneful basswork, just compliment the track even more. It remains one of their best songs, and it caught radio to a degree. Opening track "Controller" is brutal, heavy, and doesn't let go of its grip on you. "Avenue of the Finest" also continues the intricate, drilling guitar riffs, right on through to the closing bonus cut, "Proud Division", which is undeniably a catchy, compact metal song. Other songs like "Mansruin" and "Face Value" also scale up on the volume, never letting up the intensity and showing the metal that Prong truly perfected on CLEANSING and even PROVE YOU WRONG or BEG TO DIFFER. Not one weak track, this is truly a splendid album.

It's interesting to note that after this album, there was no word or news from Prong until the announced release of SCORPIO RISING, and even the 100% LIVE album, which to a degree still managed to entertain us Prong fanatics. Had RUDE AWAKENING been Prong's swansong, it would have definitely been a strong one. If you're a fan of CLEANSING, no doubt you will immerse yourself in the precision and masterful metal of RUDE AWAKENING.

Prong mastermind Tommy Victor made sure that he and his band would go out with a bang with "Rude Awakening". Featuring the same kind of sludgy riffs with a touch of industrial beats that were featured on "Cleansing", and the production by Terry Date helps Prong sound the tightest they ever have on record. And much like "Cleansing", the only real problem with "Rude Awakening" is that it wears thin towards the end of the album. Predating the nu-metal wave that hit the metal world with the arrival of Limp Bizkit and the rise of Korn, Prong choose to bow out, and they still never received the recognition they so much deserved: much like other bands in the 90's such as Helmet and Corrosion of Conformity. Standout tracks include the title track, "Face Value", and "Slicing"; which feature Tommy and crew doing some of their finest work. Tommy would return in 2003 with a spanking new lineup to re-start Prong, but "Rude Awakening" and everything before it is the real deal.

After years of playing around with the industrial side of things Prong finally put it together on this album. Terry Date's production is awesome to say the least. And those bone heads (prior Prong fans) who said they sold out need to get a clue. Prong's prior music was okay, but it lacked maturity - as if they were trying different things out to find their sound. Rude Awakenings? not just a title but the feelings and ideals of the band. It just came together on this one. White Zombie and Filter should bow down to Prong....They took metal, thrash and industrial music and blended into a totally original sound that know one else has....KUDOS!

This cd is very enjoyable. Track three is the song Rude Awakening, this song is very fun to listen to. The fifth track is called Face Value and is an industrial style song. The multimedia portion is well constructed and contains the music video of snap your fingers, snap your neck. Overall this cd is one of my favorites and is one that shold not be missed if you are a fan of this music.

I am a musican and listen to tons of music. To keep a long story short, my musical background is massive and intriguing. Rude Awakening by Prong is one of my favorite albums of all time. The song Rude Awakening simply melts faces. Listen to this album for yourself. Music insn't made like this anymore. A true classic. The lead singer sounds much like Nine Inch Nails. The melodies are as great industrial metal/alt metal/grind core. Melodies and instruments are not played like this anymore in today's music. I suggest this to any fan of metal or rock/classic rock.

Prong had been leaning in an industrial direction since 'Irrelevant thoughts' on Prove You Wrong. With Rude Awakening they made a quasi-concept album that never got the attention it deserved. The guitar tone here is even better than on Cleansing, and the production is full-on industrial with Charlie Clouser of Nine Inch Nails doing keyboards on some tunes and triggers and samples galore.

What's crazy is that Tommy Victor actually sings for many songs on this record as opposed to his usual gruff New Yorker shouting. It works well with these songs - the melodies really stick in your head after a few listens. The subject matter is supposedly about Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but these songs are more about universal dark themes like isolation and despair. Put this to thumping riffs and you have a real gem that needs only an open mind to be fully appreciated.

Although "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" from Prong's album "Cleansing" remains my favorite Prong song, "Rude Awakening" is consistently better. "Cleansing" had some awesome songs and was an awesome CD, but Prong outdid themselves with this one. It's too bad they broke up before they could record a follow-up to this one.

The songs are phenomenal. The opener, "Controller," is one of the best songs on the CD, and the lyrics, "You just got burned by the Controller" are repeated in wicked fashion with guitar licks placed effectively between them. "Face Value" is a very industrial song, opening with a heavy drum beat that sounds more like a factory at work, before the painful guitar groove sets in. "Mansruin" is a feriociously fast song that can hold its own with any hardcore band. "Slicing" is just that, slicing straight to the core with heavy guitar and an fast, even beat that will knock you out. Other standouts include "Avenue of the Finest," "Unfortunately," and the closer, "Proud Division." Well, they're all great songs, so you can't go wrong with any of them.

Prong's heaviest album, I would recommend this to fans of heavy metal or industrial metal, or to those who enjoy fast, hard, pure rock. Simply awesome.

Rude Awakening puts their album Cleansing to shame. I thought that would be hard to do but it was done. Prong is one of the best bands out there but so little people know about them. If you don't have this Prong album you need to add to your collection!

If you like Rammstein (which I love), Then this is REALLY going to ROCK you! The riffs in this album and in "Cleansing" are super-heavy and deep! This is the real style of techno-metal to listen to, instead of using techno-synths and noises, Prong puts the techno-beats into the guitar and bass in time with the drumming! Top songs are "Face Value", "Unfortunately", "Controller", followed by every song on this awesome album!!