Prong – Cleansing

Prong’s Cleansing marked a defining moment for the band and the wider metal scene in the early 1990s. Released in January 1994, the album saw the New York trio—Tommy Victor (vocals/guitar), Paul Raven (bass, ex-Killing Joke), and Ted Parsons (drums)—perfect a fusion of groove metal, industrial textures, and hardcore urgency. Moving away from the thrash leanings of earlier albums, Cleansing offered cold, mechanical riffing with rhythmic precision, atmospheric samples, and a focused, aggressive vocal delivery. The result was an album that felt both stripped-down and layered, propulsive and hypnotic.

The lead single, “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck,” became an underground hit and an enduring riff anthem of the era, driven by a grinding groove and Victor’s barked vocals. Tracks like “Broken Peace” and “Whose Fist Is This Anyway?” mixed industrial repetition with dynamic shifts and anthemic choruses. Produced by Terry Date (Pantera, Deftones), the album has a clinical, punchy sound that helped Prong reach new audiences at the intersection of metal, industrial rock, and alternative.

Reviews

“The band’s most varied and best record yet... tightens up their trademark drilling guitars while adding some slight techno and industrial touches.” – AllMusic

“What further thrusts this into that genre is the liberal use of sampling… I can't actually pick out a weak track in the bunch.” – Metal Archives (autothrall)

“Attitude, balls‑out aggression, and industrial soundscapes… Taking the massive thrashings of Pantera, the grungy aggression of Helmet, and the atmosphere of Killing Joke.” – MetalMusicArchives (Unitron)

“The two big hits… are the perfect examples of catchy, bouncy tunes charged with cut‑throat choruses, hammering verses, and buzzsaw riffs properly coated with a deep sense of eradication and guidance.” – Metal Archives (OzzyApu)

“Broken Peace… builds into groove/industrial slabs of guitar… plus the kind of stadium-sized solo that Metallica were hogging.” – Metal Archives (gasmask_colostomy)