Life is funny, after reviewing three Prong‘s albums; 2017’s “Zero Days,” 2019’s “Age of Defiance,” and 2023’s “State of Emergency,” I came to realize that the band is a colorful mix of the mockery and debouche of Hardcore with the groovy instrumentals of Groove Metal. All this with the band’s very personal touch. I suppose this must be due to the inner beauty of live albums as this “Live And Uncleansed” is.
Ok, “Live And Uncleansed” was recorded over seven nights in July and August 2025 to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Prong’s 1994’s “Cleansing” album. Guitarist and vocalist Tommy Victor proudly comments on the “Cleansing” anniversary tour: “It was the longest set Prong ever did, over two hours sometimes. I really enjoyed the long set. We have so many songs that our fans want to hear. We did some numbers from our debut ‘Force Fed’ in the original E-tuning, which shocked people. Of course, the fans also loved this long set, and I believe they really felt they got their money’s worth!”
As it would be expected by Prong’s proficuous career “Live And Uncleansed” is a very varied album. If I were to point out one of its silver linings, it would be this one, besides being an alive album. Alive albums are always the best. Well, of course, as usual, the tracks that outstand the sonancy of the album are the ones that interest me more as the 1980’s inspired “Not Of This Earth” and all its screaming guitars. They give a certain taste of not-belonging to the album. The point out of the curve, if you know what I am saying. On the other side of the coin, tracks as “Ultimate Authority” and “However It May End” are the perfect face of the band.
It is some kind of unanimity that alive albums are celebrations of a band’s career going over its best moments. Metal music considers alive albums a kind of the icing on the cake for musicians and fans alike. I agree with both totally. The best albums I can immeadiately recall are alive albums even though the controversies about using overdubs and other technical solutions that our woundrous musical technology is now allowing bands to make use of now. I cannot really tell if “Live And Uncleansed” had its moments at the beauty parlor, but it’s a good alive album. Moreover, it is a great celebration of the band’s career and its 1994’s “Cleansing” album.
Prong “Live And Uncleansed” will be released via Steamhammer.
Track Listing:
01 Revenge…Best Served Cold
02 Inheritance
03 The Descent
04 One Outnumbered
05 No Question
06 Sublime
07 Not Of This Earth
08 Home Rule
09 Ultimate Authority
10 Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
11 However It May End
Bonus Tracks:
12 Out Of This Misery
13 Corpus Delicti
14 Whose Fist Is This Anyway?
Watch “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck” alive music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!