Theirs is a pure exercise in relentlessness, but in Obituary’s own way: they can play at breakneck speed, but within the same song, guitarists Ken Andrews and Peres slow the tempo down to dirge-like levels at a moment’s notice, all the while keeping the music heavy as hell thanks to down-tuned guitars and the snarling, inhuman vocals of John Tardy, augmented by the doomy and eerie attack of death-metal everyone’s favorite bassist Terry Butler. The Tampa quintet led by the Tardy brothers and rhythm guitarist Trevor Peres, has never believed in trends, evolution, short hair or gimmicks. If you have ever been to an Obituary show before, you know what to expect, and if you haven’t, you better get ready beforehand. Next-up were Florida’s own death-metal forefathers – and one of the most successful bands in the sub-genre, – the mighty Obituary. Test / Disbelief / Beg to Differ / Cut-Rate / Broken Peace / Whose Fist Is This Anyway? / Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck / However It May End PRONG PICTURE GALLERY The main core of their songs came off their first three, and critically acclaimed studio album “Beg to Differ,” “Prove You Wrong,” and a personal favorite “Cleansing.” Cuts like “Broken Piece,” “Whose Fist is This Anyway?” and the classic “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck,” were chanted by the ravenous crowd, and I bet that more than one of those in the audience felt compelled to take a closer look at Prong’s catalogue after witnessing their raw and infectious live energy. Victor and restless bassist Jason Christopher moved continually left and right exchanging colossal guitar riffs and huge bass licks, while drummer Aaron Rossi surgically punished the skins in the back. They appeared on stage with a hungry-for-blood attitude, and blasted their way through a boisterous 8-songs set-list, effortlessly combining utterly frantic and unrelenting thrash & groove metal with industrial nuances. The trio, fronted by guitarist/vocalist Tommy Victor – Prong‘s sole constant member – emerged out of the early 90’s thrash-metal landscape and carved a niche all of their own with their minimalist urban take of the genre. The night openers were New Yorkers Prong, one of those bands that deserves way more recognition than what they have sowed (and despite this might sound like a cliché, it’s the out-and-out truth here).

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