Tuesday 31 March 2020

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - VISCERALS (Album Review)


Release date: April 3rd 2020. Label: Rocket Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Viscerals – Tracklisting

1.Reducer
2.Rubbernecker
3.New Body
4.Blood and Butter
5.World Crust
6.Crazy in Blood
7.Halloween Bolson
8.Hell's Teeth

Members

Matt Baty (Vocals)
Sam Grant (Guitar)
Adam Ian Sykes (Guitar)
Christopher Morley (Drums)
John-Michael Hedley (Bass)

Review

UK Noise/Doom/Stoner Rockers – PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS – aka PIGSx7 – are aiming high for their new album – Viscerals. As the band have opted for a more groovier and riff-centred sound. The earlier experimental vibes of their previous releases aren’t as noticeable on this record but the band still manage to include some strange experimental sounds on certain parts of the album.

Viscerals sees the band more focused and playing with a lot more confidence and you can feel that from the excellent opening song Reducer. With it’s heavy Noise Rock approach and it’s sneering Punk based outlook on life. The atmosphere is still very raw but the music is heavier and psychedelic in places with the guitars and vocals having the same aggressive tone that Torche first made their names with. Though, PIGSx7 are still very much their own band and when the Psychedelic grooves appear towards the end it’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer heaviness of it all.

Second song – Rubbernecker – has a seedy atmosphere with the band playing a more caustic style of music and the heavy Droned Out Doom/Stoner Guitars fit superbly well with lead singer Matt’s wicked vocals that have a cool rebellious feel to them. Though it’s PIGSx7 inventive use of different sounds and genres that make this one of the standout songs on the album. As Rubbernecker is catchy as hell and the band still manage to create a song that’s seedy in all of the right places.

Third song – New Body – is a 7 minute song that allows the band to create one of the heaviest and weirdest songs on the album with Matt’s devilish vocals and fucked-up aggressive lyrics leading the way. The heavy and streetwise Noise Rock attitude still has a “Doom/Stoner Metal” quality to it. Though, it may take a few listens to fully understand and appreciate. The music feels inspired by Torche/The Melvins in place but that’s no bad thing in my book. As you can feel the heavy and violent riffs coming at you from all directions.

The band continue with their impressive blend of Psychedelic Heaviness that takes elements of Sludge, Doom, Noise and Stoner Metal on the rest of the album with some truly insane lyrics especially on the nightmarish weird song – Blood And Butter.

PIGSx7 continue to impress even more on songs such as: World Crust, Crazy In Blood and Halloween Bolson – that leave you impressed with their many different styles of music they included on this album.

PIGSx7 are a band I’ve have admired for a long time ever since they released their 2013 debut release - The Wizard and the Seven Swines – which I reviewed for another blog that I used to run back in the day. I have to say Viscerals is PIGSx7 most grown up and best album to date.

The album sounds fantastic and allows the band to offer a more surreal and addictive style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that is as good as it gets. Don’t be surprised if you see Viscerals hitting up a lot of “Album Of The Year” lists near the end of year. It’s already grabbed a spot on mine.

Simply Unmissable....

Words by Steve Howe

Viscerals is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Rocket Recordings from April 3rd 2020.

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