Prong Streaming “Banned In DC”


Prong is streaming their cover of the Bad Brains classic “Banned in DC,” off their forthcoming covers album, out in the US on March 31, 2015 via eOne Music (SPV/Steamhammer special CD and LP edition available in Scandinavia on March 25, in Germany on March 27, and the rest of Europe on March 30), here.

The track list is far from traditional. With covers of artists like Neil Young, Black Flag, Bad Brains and Sisters of Mercy, the band casts their net wide. The goal, says Victor, was to explore the vast landscape that makes up the bands sound, stemming from their roots. “Since the record explores Prong’s roots, musically and geographically, this needed to be expressed visually and this was attained.”

TRACK LISTING:

1. Doomsday (Discharge)
2. Vision Thing (Sisters Of Mercy)
3. Goofy`s Concern (Butthole Surfers)
4. Kids Of The Black Hole (Adolescents)
5. Bars (Black Flag)
6. Seeing Red (Killing Joke)
7. Don`t Want To Know If You Are Lonely (Husker Du)
8. Give Me The Cure (Fugazi)
9. Banned in DC (Bad Brains)
10. Cortez The Killer (Neil Young)

The band has also announced their upcoming US tour this fall.

Apr 17: VERA – Groningen (NT)
Apr 18: Poppodium Volt – Sittard (NT)
Apr 19: De Kreun – Kortrijk (BL)
Apr 21: O2 Academy 2 – Birmingham (UK)
Apr 22: O2 Academy 2 – Liverpool (UK)
Apr 23: O2 Academy – Islington (UK)
Apr 24: O2 Academy – Bristol (UK)
Apr 25: L’Empreinte – Savigny Le Temple (FR)
Apr 26: Konzertfabrik 27 – Pratteln (SW)
Apr 27: PPC – Graz (AT)
Apr 28: Szene Wien – Vienna (AT)
Apr 29: Feierwerk – Munich (DE)
Apr 30: Huxleys Neue Welt – Berlin (DE)
May 01: Underground – Koln (DE)
May 02: Turock – Essen (DE)
May 03: Knust – Hamburg (DE)
Oct 23: Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA
Oct 24: Las Vegas Country Saloon (LVCS) – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 25: Club Red/Red Owl – Mesa, AZ
Oct 27: Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
Oct 28: Aftershock – Shawnee, KS
Oct 30: Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
Oct 31: Tree’s – Dallas, TX
Nov 01: The Korova – San Antonio, TX
Nov 02: Scout bar – Houston, TX
Nov 03: Siberia – New Orleans, LA
Nov 04: Orpheum – Tampa, FL
Nov 05: The Haven Lounge – Winter Park, FL
Nov 06: Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
Nov 07: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Nov 08: TBA – Birmingham, AL
Nov 09: Centerstage Bar & Grill – Kokomo, IN
Nov 10: Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Nov 11: Empire – Springfield, VA
Nov 12: Upstairs at the Palladium – Worcester, MA
Nov 13: Trickshots – Clifton Park, NY
Nov 14: Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
Nov 15: Foufoune’s – Montreal, QC
Nov 16: L’Agitee – Quebec, QC
Nov 17: Ritual Nightclub – Ottawa, ON
Nov 18: The Garrison – Toronto, ON
Nov 19: Hard Rock Café – Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 20: Rt 20 Outhouse – Racine, WI
Nov 21: The Token Lounge – Westland, MI
Nov 22: Agora Theatre & Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Nov 23: Mojoe’s – Joliet, IL
Nov 24: Spicoli’s Grill & Reverb Rock Gardnen – Waterloo, IA
Nov 25: Fubar – St Louis, MO
Nov 27: POV’s Sports Bar & Grill – Andover, MN
Nov 28: Zoo Cabaret – Winnipeg, MB
Nov 30: Pawn Shop – Edmonton, AB
Dec 01: The Nite Owl – Calgary, AB
Dec 03: Venue – Vancouver, BC
Dec 04: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Dec 05: Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
Dec 06: Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA
Dec 07: Whisky – West Hollywood, CA

prong north american tour 2015

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Islander – Violence and Destruction


VR701

 

For a new band just getting started, garnering praise from musicians in the industry is a major benefit. More than just a stroking of the ego, these types of recommendations can help to build hype around an artist as fans of the famous admirer take note of what their musical hero is saying. Islander are a band who have been given such praise, with H.R. from punk legends Bad Brains and Sonny Sandoval from nu-metallers P.O.D. lapping up the foursomes brand of alternative rock/metal.

 

However, just because they like it doesn’t mean everyone will, and when it comes to their debut album, Violence and Destruction (Victory), that certainly rings true.

 

A mixture of heartfelt lyrics and nu-metal/alt-rock tones, Islander’s first full-length is a grower not a shower, with some tracks neither showing nor really growing. A mixture of the two, opener ‘Counteract,’ an angst-ridden metal affair and ‘The Sadness of Graves,’ an aggressive but melodic track, set a high standard from the off but not everything that follows is cut from the same entertaining cloth. ‘New Wave,’ ‘Count Dracula’ and ‘Cold Speak’ are half-decent almost sombre tracks with sincere lyrics but lack anything to really make them stand out, while songs such as the zealous ‘Side Effects of Youth’ and creative ‘Pains’ show a different, more musically passionate side to the band, a side which is much more entertaining to hear.

 

Then there’s the nu-metal anthem ‘Criminals,’ which features the aforementioned Sonny Sandoval and sounds like it was taken straight from the 90s, a great track for anyone who into their nu-metal or is looking for some nostalgia to their youth. In the next breath is ‘Mira,’ a very short track that feels pretty much pointless. Finale ‘Violence and Destruction’ however leaves the album going out the way it came in; with an explosive yet harmonious bang, giving you at least a good last memory.

 

Violence and Destruction is a tale of two halves, one being great and the other being rather unmemorable. If you like your alt-metal with a douse of unpredictability, this album with surely quench that particular thirst, but not always for the right reasons.

 

5.0/10.0

Islander on Facebook

 

EMMA QUINLAN