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.
Links: