CRADLE OF FILTH Bassist Joins PRONG On Stage In U.K.; Video Available

PRONG is currently in the middle of a short European tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of its landmark "Beg To Differ" album. Decibel magazine has lauded that LP for "breaking sacred ground and directing where heavy music would inevitably head for the rest of the '90s." In addition, they are playing classics from their catalog as well as material from their recent "Carved Into Stone" album. Joining mainman Tommy Victor and drummer Alexei Rodriguez are bass players Matt Brunson of CROWBAR and former CRADLE OF FILTH bassist Dave Pybus.

Tommy explained the presence of not one, but two well-known bassists.

"Since Tony Campos (who has been touring with the band and played on 'Carved Into Stone') is touring with SOULFLY, we've had to tour with other bass players," Tommy said. "Everyone who has toured with us so far has been fantastic and brought their own personal style to PRONG. Phil Zeller from TOXIC HOLOCAUST did the CROWBAR tour. Jason Rapesi, who has played with STONE SOUR, did a few shows with us before that. We were heading to Europe and the guy we had couldn't do it in the eleventh hour. Rather than cancel, our friend Matt Brunson from CROWBAR stepped in and learned the entire 'Beg To Differ' album in a day and a half! Then we found out that Dave Pybus, who has played with CRADLE OF FILTH, was going to be the tech on the tour. As it turned out, Dave is a massive PRONG fan! He learned some of the other songs and has been joining Alexei and I onstage every night. Now we have two great bass players each night! This tour has been a blast!"

PRONG will resume tearing up the road in the U.S. this July for a string of shows with the legendary Maryland rockers CLUTCH.

Quality multi-camera video footage of PRONG's May 12 concert at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, United Kingdom can be seen below.

PRONG's new album, "Carved Into Stone", sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Carved Into Stone" was released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.

According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."

Comments Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."

PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.

"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."

Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.