The Prodigy Visualize Future
New Record In Works

By Will Jordan

Multi-platinum electronic rock outfit The Prodigy are in their UK studio putting the finishing touches on their latest release of bass-heavy, undeniably danceable soundings, and are already plotting an onslaught of audiences around the world.
Since the group’s inception in 1990, The Prodigy (Liam Howlett, Maxim, Keith Flint) have released four albums and numerous singles, been #1 in 27 countries simultaneously with their incomparable Fat of The Land, toured the world with their incendiary live shows, made groundbreaking videos such as “Smack My Bitch Up” and “ Firestarter”, and have shaken things up musically and socially by being unafraid to court controversy.
The group hopes to further its reputation with its latest project.
“We’ve been working on this a good six months,” Maxim tells Rib. “We still don’t see the end. We’ve got a ways to go and feel we’re really still in the developmental stages, but it’s good to be back in the studio again.”
Maxim says the album will be totally different from past releases, but adds it will definitely bear The Prodigy brand.
“We’re not going to try to write something that doesn’t sound like us,” he says. “We feel we’ve always had a good thing going.”
The lead singer says he’s spent a lot of time listening to others’ music as well as watching music videos while brainstorming for new ideas for the record.
“I like to get ideas from all over. I love to experiment with lots of different sounds. We’re putting a lot of our own energy into it though,” Maxim says. “You’re going to hear a new Prodigy sound.”
The Prodigy have been doing select shows close to home, which Maxim says inspires them to get back into the studio and try new things.
“It’s important to do shows while recording a new album,” he says. “You have to get a bit of both [live experiences and studio time].”
The group has always been known for their elaborate, high-energy shows. They’ve played and headlined almost every major festival in the world from England’s Glastonbury Festival to Fuji in Japan and Coachella in the US and played in nearly every country in the world over their 15-year peak, from 1990 to 2005.
“We’ve had our moments,” Maxim chuckles. “We always get together after a good show and share champagne and talk about it. What kind of party we have really reflects what kind of show we had that night.”
But the partying ceases at the studio doors, where Maxim and his cohorts take recording very seriously.
Distancing them from other like-minded groups in the world in the early ‘90s, The Prodigy crossed over to shock the mainstream with live experiences that approximated the original atmosphere of the British rave scene, even while leaning close to arena-rock showmanship and punk theatrics.
It was musician / producer Liam Howlett whose studio wizardry launched The Prodigy to the top of the charts, spinning a web of hard-hitting breakbeat techno with king-sized hooks and unmissable samples, according to The Prodigy.
Despite electronic music's diversity and quick progression during the 1990s, Liam modified the Prodigy's sound sparingly; swapping the rave-whistle effects and ragga samples for metal chords and chanted vocals, which proved the only major difference in the band's evolution from their debut to their worldwide breakthrough with their third album The Fat of the Land.
Maxim promises more of the same fury and fire with the latest release, which was still unnamed by press time, and is anxious to take the new sounds to the rest of the world.
“We’re into releasing rebellious energy against anything and everything and we want all of our listeners to get off on the same energy,” he says.
For more information on The Prodigy visit www.theprodigy.com.

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