Band:	Prong
Album:	Beg To Differ
Style:	Crossover thrash metal, Groove thrash metal
Release date:	1990
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. For Dear Life
02. Steady Decline
03. Beg To Differ
04. Lost And Found
05. Your Fear
06. Take It In Hand
07. Intermenstrual, D.S.B.
08. Right To Nothing
09. Prime Cut
10. Just The Same
11. Third From The Sun [live]

Prong was the megaforce thrash machine of the '90s era. While Force Fed captured the gritty essence of crossover thrash, Beg To Differ took a starkly approach, presenting a mechanically sheened sound that offered a sharp rebuke to the rawness of its predecessor, even while both albums shared the same thrash DNA.

To start with, Beg To Differ rips with its retro style-fashion deviant chops, with Tommy Victor’s semi-irate vocals selling like butter chicken here. "Steady Decline" delivers a more approachable, crunchier sound, intensifying the groove and rhythm, with subtle, almost subliminal patterns emerging from the structured thrash riffs, such as on the title track "Beg To Differ"; appetites are further whet by the mellow chugging guitar riffs that slap hard in lieu of Tommy’s vocals in "Your Fear". A mantra-like trance is brought on by the creeping rhythm in "Prime Cut", with crushing riffs and bass on top, making it a favorite track off the album.

Prong managed to evolve their style and production with a few steady shifts, all while preserving their core attitude: a crossover outfit modernizing their sound to adapt to changing trends. Yet, the infusion of punk sensibilities became less apparent, with songs limping by due to the slower, more polished approach and reverberating drum sound — processed and drenched in reverb to the point of sounding almost synthetic. This shift renders the overall sound less intriguing, and falls flat in terms of the compatibility of the album.

Much of the album retains Prong's thrash roots, albeit slowed down to groove-heavy hard rock tempos and dispersed with fresh interludes. However, mid-tempo heavy hitters like "Beg To Differ" and "Just The Same" manage to hold their ground in their own right. In truth, Beg To Differ is just as unique as Prong's debut; though it may not reach the same level of excellence, or may not be as exquisite as Voivod, it certainly operates with sharp eccentricity.

Highlights: "Prime Cut" and "Beg To Differ"