Release Date: February 17th 2023. Record Label: Rocket Recordings. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Land Of Sleeper: Tracklisting
Ultimate Hammer
Terror's Pillow
Big Rig
The Weatherman
Mr Medicine
Pipe Down!
Atlas Stone
Ball Lightning
Review
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (Pigsx7) return with their new album Land Of Sleeper which arrives three years after their critically acclaimed last album Viscerals. Pigsx7 are catchy and aggressive as ever with their Sludge/Doom inspired Noise/Punk Rock hooks with an extra layer of Stoner based madness within the background of the band's music.
Pigsx7 embrace a more real life feeling to their lyrics but still with that wicked sense of fun which has been shown over their last two releases. The band plays a more sludgier style of music that evokes memories of The Melvins in places. The guys know how to have fun with their music when playing their own particular sound which is used superbly well on the opening track Ultimate Hammer which oozes a wonderfully dark Black Sabbath inspired AMPLIFIER style sound. The Punk Rock moments are most definitely felt within the lyrics and vocals with some 90's based Alt Rock/Metal allowing areas of Distorted Psychedelic Rock with some Drone based tendencies to appear.
Second song Terror's Pillow carries on with the down-tuned Sludge Rock based Noise Rock grooves. The album has an off-kilter approach compared to their last album but Pigsx7 are aiming for bigger and better things here even this early on the album. The music has a subtle GONZO and WEIRDO effect but the music is always engaging and downright original especially when Pigsx7 go all out with their Doom/Sludge Rock approach. More outbursts of distorted and glitchy sounds soon morph into a Droned Out attack with a bleak Stoned Out atmospherics which the band more commonly on the later stages of the album.
Third song Big Rig is one of the longest tracks on the album running around six and half minutes in length. The song carries on the dark twisted Noise Rock delivery with a subtle SUB-POP feeling to the amount of different styles that Pigsx7 employ here. The Psychedelic beats are an inspired choice especially when matched against the almost Progressive Doom Rock riffs that move into heavier areas of the underground scene. The lyrics are excellent yet again with Pigsx7 making the listener think about what this song is actually about. Though, you can easily focus on the riffs instead. As the riffs here are plentiful with much needed Psychedelic Grit and menace whilst still being a warmly engaging and raucous RAWK SONG!!!.
The band continues with this blend of music for the rest of the album but showcasing areas of Sonic Experimentation on tracks such as: The Weatherman (which is perhaps the most DOOM METAL track on this album), Mr Medicine, Atlas Stone and Ball Lightning.
The second half of the album is perhaps more experimental compared to the first half with Pigsx7 use of different vocal techniques, psychedelic rhythms and use of experimental noises that leave an unsettling atmosphere in places. However, the album does become heavier as well on my favourite tracks such as The Weatherman and Atlas Stone.
Land Of Sleeper may see Pigsx7 move onto bigger and better things with sold out tours in the UK, Europe and USA coming up over the next few months. However, the band haven't forgotten their underground roots with Land Of Sleeper showcasing some of the most interesting and perhaps heaviest songs the band have written to date.
The album is boosted by first rate production values and I can see Land Of Sleeper only propelling PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS closer to wider mainstream attention and on this form, they guys truly deserve this.
Land Of Sleeper has the potential to be one of the best and most exciting releases of the year.
Words by Steve Howe
Land Of Sleeper is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Rocket Recordings from Friday 17th February 2023.
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