| Rude Awakening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 14, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:50 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Terry Date,Tommy Victor | |||
| Prong chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rude Awakening is the fifth studio album by American metal bandProng. It is anenhanced CD but was also released as a special limited edition on12" red vinyl. The album was reissued in 2008 as adigipak version, featuring four remixes of the "Rude Awakening" single and a new booklet.[1]
Rude Awakening entered theBillboard charts at No. 107[2] and sold 10,000 units in the United States in its first week.[3] It is the last Prong album to featureTed Parsons andPaul Raven, as well as the band's last album onEpic Records.
Continuing from the developments on 1994'sCleansing,Rude Awakening sees a further pursuit of theindustrial style. Following the departure of keyboardist John Bechdel in 1995, electronic contributions would be managed by Charlie Clouser ofNine Inch Nails. The tracks are also comparatively slower than what could be found on prior releases by the band. The album's opener, "Controller", contains an identical riff to the song "Doomsayer" byArgyle Park. Frontman/guitaristTommy Victor had contributed to the latter song and reused the guitar part for the former.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 8/10[5] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 6/10[6] |
| Kerrang! | [7] |
| Ox-Fanzine | [8] |
| Rock Hard | 9.5/10[9] |
Reviewing the title track,Billboard wrote that the single's "assaulting, deviant style" shows why Prong is popular.[10] Jenni Glenn ofCMJ New Music Monthly wrote that the album is heavier and angrier thanCleansing, blendingthrash metal andindustrial music.[11]
All tracks written by Prong except "Controller" (Prong andScott Albert) and "Slicing" (Prong and Joe Bishara Kebbe).[12]
Additional personnel
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard 200[2] | 107 |
