Prick: the '90s industrial punk album blending bleakness with theatrical flair

While working on The Downward Spiral, Trent Reznor lent his production skills to an old friend, Kevin McMahon, from the new wave band Lucky Pierre, a group Reznor once briefly belonged to. Although Reznor is officially credited as producer on only four tracks of Prick's self-titled debut, his influence is noticeable throughout the record.

McMahon, however, brings his own theatrical sensibility to the project, giving the songs a glammy flamboyance reminiscent of T. Rex records. This approach lets Prick embrace goth theatricality in a way Reznor's own band, Nine Inch Nails, never did.

Tracks and influences

The opening track, "Communiqué," is a simple, fuzzy punk blast with electronic touches, where the vocals shift between spoken-word verses and full-throated screams. The second track, "Riverhead," shows Reznor's influence most clearly, even though he isn't officially credited as its producer — the vocal melodies recall Bowie's later work, while the song's ending, built from electronic drums and synthetic guitar textures, could have passed as a B-side from Reznor's own catalog.

The review notes that these carefully layered moments are consistently undercut by deliberately rough passages, as heard on "Tough." This contrast is part of what gives the album its charm, as McMahon isn't afraid of goofy lyrics or over-the-top vocal performances.

"Animal," which received some MTV airplay, is compared to Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" for its similar theme, though it takes a rawer, more shouted approach. "I Apologize" is singled out as the most unpredictable track, shifting between new wave and a Ministry-style industrial dirge within a single song.

The review concludes that while Prick shares much with other '90s industrial acts, McMahon's playful energy sets it apart from the many Nine Inch Nails imitators of the era. The album is available on major streaming platforms.