PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - Death Hilarious (Album Review)

Release Date: April 04th 2025. Record Label: Rocket Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Death Hilarious - Tracklisting

1.Blockage 02:51

2.Detroit 05:39

3.Collider 03:27

4.Stitches 05:27

5.Glib Tongued (Featuring EL–P) 03:43

6.The Wyrm 07:04

7.Carousel 05:03

8.Coyote Call 03:52

9.Toecurler 08:27

Review

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS (PigsX7) perhaps needed to fine tune their sound for their outlandish and superbly entertaining fifth album Death Hilarious. Stepping away from the aggressive sounds of their previous record Land Of Sleeper and returning to the more inventive sounds of their 2020 album Viscerals and in some ways their earlier albums such as Feed The Rats. Death Hilarious is PigsX7 aggressive and riff-fuelled record to date but still allowing themselves the creative freedom and experimentation they’ve delivered with previous albums. 

There is a drone heavy appetite forming on tracks such as Blockage, Detroit and Collider which has loving glances to bands such as The Melvins, BORIS, TORCHE and Soundgarden when the mood becomes ever so grounded with screeching guitars and a classic GRUNGE attitude. Lead frontman Matt Baty’s vocals have an earnest and grounded approach to them with the off-kilter Post-Punk energy that resonates from his intense delivery and cynical delivery that accompanies the stripped back and amplifier distorted heavy instrumental melodies. There is a delicious and devious sense of fun with the grimy and pitch-black humour that appears at the right critical moment that allows PigsX7 to be quite cerebral and downright vicious with the THUGGISH and THRASH sounds that appear on later stages of the album.

There’s even a HIP-HOP inspired number called Glib Tongued featuring guest vocals from Hip-Hop Artist EL-P which on paper shouldn’t really work especially with the Doom Metal/Sludge Rock surroundings that PigsX7 bring to the party. However, this is the perfect match for both parties. As EL-P brings a sense of TRUE GRIT to this track and the spiky lyrics written by bassist John-Michael Hedley are some of the best on the entire record. 

Death Hilarious has its fair share of Psychedelic sounds and Sonic beats that are spliced with such vitriol and fury especially when the band’s determined use of Noise Rock and Progressive based grooves on tracks The Wyrm, Carousel and Toecurler which are some of the other standout tracks on the record. 

This is perhaps PigsX7 most mainstream sounding record to date though one that still has all the nasty trappings and seedy heaviness of the underground scene where the band first made their name with. This just confirms PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS place as one of the most vital and important Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal bands the UK has right now.

If you ever need a record that has the BALLS, BRAINS and COURAGE to be different and still offer a brutal and brilliant sense of realism then DEATH HILARIOUS is the record and it’s right up with Viscerals for being my favourite PigsX7 album. This is another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender from the band and will no doubt be another massive success for the band.

 They deserve all of the plaudits surely coming their way….

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Announce UK / European Dates and release new music!

We are delighted to announce some headline shows in the UK and mainland Europe for April and May 2025.

And we figured mark the momentous month of November 2024 with a brand new song about a ghastly, needy and controlling man. Its called 'Detroit' and more details on that and the tour can be found below.

OK lets go...

ON TOUR IN 2025

As noted above, we have some tour dates! UK in April, Europe in May. And, sshhhh, we're looking to play in North America in the summer.

Tickets for the UK and European dates dates will be on sale this Friday, November 15th. With pre-sale on pigsx7.com for the UK dates at 10am on Weds 13th.

UK - APRIL 2025:

03 – Brighton, UK – CHALK
04 – London, UK – KOKO
05 – Bristol, UK – SWX
07 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
08 – Birmingham, UK – The Castle & Falcon
09 – Birkenhead, UK – Future Yard
11 – Manchester, UK – New Century Hall
12 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
15 – Edinburgh, UK – La Belle Angèle
16 – Glasgow, UK – St Luke's

EUROPE - MAY 2025:

17 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
22 – Cologne, DE – Gebäude 9
23 – Düdingen, CH – Bad Bonn
24 – Munich, DE – Strom
26 – Leipzig, DE – UT Connewitz
27 – Berlin, DE – Säälchen
28 – Hamburg, DE – Knust

Reminder on when what is on sale:

Weds 13th Nov - UK pre-sale via our website 10am
Friday 15th Nov - all dates on general sale 10am

'DETROIT' - THE NEW SINGLE

New tour = new music. We're over the moon to get new material out there.

'Detroit' is massive slab of striking noise rock about a hideous man with even worse behaviours. Better we let Matt take it from here: "Detroit reflects on the worst manifestations of male jealousy and resentment, and the ways in which the deliberate avoidance of accountability can lead to deflecting responsibility in exchange for blaming external forces like fate or God for perceived injustice".

Recorded by Sam at Blank Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne a bit earlier this year.

And we made a music video! Shot by the brilliant photographer Ellen Dixon, who also took the photo at the top of this mailout.

Stream, download or watch the video here: https://pigsx7.ffm.to/detroit

Proceeds that this track generates in 2024 we'll be donating to domestic abuse charities ahead of the tour.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - Live In New York (Album Review)

Release Date: October 27th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Live In New York - Tracklisting

1.Mr Medicine (Live) 03:30

2.Rubbernecker (Live) 04:46

3.Ultimate Hammer (Live) 04:51

4.World Crust (Live) 02:53

5.Big Rig (Live) 07:34

6.Terror's Pillow (Live) 05:13

7.GNT (Live) 06:56

8.A66 (Live) 09:48

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS aka PIGSx7 return with their first live album which is captured from their April 2023 performance at New York’s Mercury Lounge. The US Tour was in support of their acclaimed 2023 album Land Of Sleeper which is perhaps PIGSx7 most accessible and crazed release to date with it’s catchy grooves and sludgy hooks.

Live In New York sees the band put in a barnstorming performance that features tracks from their last few albums which is mostly a collection of fan favourite tracks such as Mr Medicine, Rubbernecker, Ultimate Hammer and Big Rig. There’s a raucous Punk Rock quality to the PIGSx7 live performance that their studio albums can’t quite capture. I’ve seen the band multiple times over the years and they never cease to disappoint by putting in a highly energetic performance where the band always have demented fun up on stage.

This live album does a terrific job in capturing the raw energy and seedy Psychedelic Doomed Out grooves the band are known for. It’s great to hear this album is not overly produced and it’s close to the live PIGSx7 experience that you possibly realise.

The instrumental work is thrilling and intense throughout with PIGSx7 just doing what they do best with not a care in the world especially on the more rebellious tracks on the album such as Rubbernecker, Ultimate Hammer, Terror’s Pillow and A66. The audience in attendance at this gig really seem to be having a blast with PIGSx7 which you can hear in the background at various points of the live recording.

PIGSx7 are from my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the North East of England and I’m really proud of how these guys have achieved in their careers by talent, sheer hard work, grit and a solid steely determination which I feel is shown through their music. Live In New York is quite raw-sounding and unapologetic with the collection of tracks that PIGSx7 play here. However, it’s also a genuinely exciting, catchy and aggressive sounding record that offers huge amounts of fun within its 45 minute running time. 

Live In New York offers fans the perfect chance who have never seen the band live in action what they actually sound like on stage and this album captures this experience almost perfectly with a “NO FRILLS” approach allowing this record to be one of the essential Live Albums to own in 2023. 

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS are going from strength to strength and they’re only going to get bigger and better in the years to come. Live In New York is another wickedly entertaining release to own and to add to your PIGSx7 collection.

Awesome stuff. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Live In New York is available to buy digitally and limited edition vinyl now.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - Land Of Sleeper (Album Review)

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.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Announce New Album Details And Extensive Tour News

We’re over the moon to announce our new album ‘Land of Sleeper’. It is our fourth studio album and is released on February 17th 2023 via Rocket Recordings.

Pre-order and pre-save options can be found below.

In addition to this news, we are also happy to share the first single from the album 'Mr Medicine’, and we’re equally ecstatic to share the news that we have yet more live shows to announce: this time in New York, Los Angeles, London, Brighton and Bristol.

Lets get into it:

LAND OF SLEEPER

We’re back. A bit darker and heavier than before, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.

The album is available on multiple editions - vinyl, CD and digital. For more information and to pre-order the album, please visit: https://pigsx7.ffm.to/landofsleeper

The album features 8 tracks and runs for 40 minutes. Cover art by Callum Rooney.

Tracklisting:

01. Ultimate Hammer
02. Terror's Pillow
03. Big Rig
04. The Weatherman
05. Mr Medicine
06. Pipe Down!
07. Atlas Stone
08. Ball Lightning

‘Land of Sleeper’ also hosts guest turns from Kate Smith, Sally Pilkington, Cath Tyler and Richard Dawson.

MR MEDICINE

Providing some absurdity to contrast against the heft of ‘Terror’s Pillow’ (which we unveiled in live session form a few weeks back) is our friendly neighbourhood general practitioner, ‘Mr Medicine’. This is first song taken from the record comes in the compact form. Our Sam says it's “song written to be a sonic arrow, purposefully succinct with no fat and no detours.”

Official Music video is on the way - made with director Wilm Danby, and shot in Newcastle in September 2022. In the meantime dose up on the audio here:

2023 TOUR DATES - US AND UK SHOWS ADDED

We’re very excited to be heading to some of the finest towns and cities in the UK. And in North America. New shows are marked below. Some shows are already sold out. We will do our best to keep adding shows throughout 2023 in the UK and mainland Europe.

All the information you need can be found at pigsx7.com

UK SHOWS:

Fri 17th Feb - Bristol - Rough Trade (Instore show/signing) (NEW SHOW)

Sat 18th Feb - London - Rough Trade East (Instore show/signing) (NEW SHOW)

Sun 19th Feb - Brighton - Chalk (Resident Records Outstore show/signing) (NEW SHOW)

Thur 23rd Feb - Gateshead - The Sage            

Fri 24th Feb - Edinburgh - The Liquid Rooms      

Sat 25th Feb - Kendal - The Brewery            

Sun 26th Feb - Lincoln - Lincoln Drill Hall    

Thu 2nd Mar - Cambridge - Junction              

Fri 3rd Mar - Ipswich - The Baths              

Sat 4th Mar - Hastings - The Crypt              

Sat 5th Mar - Leicester - O2 Academy            

Thur 13th Apr - Milton Keynes - The Craufurd Arms      

Fri 14th Apr - Stoke-on-Trent - The Sugarmill          

Sat 15th Apr - Hebden Bridge - Trades Club (SOLD OUT)

Sun 16th Apr - Stockton on Tees - Georgian Theatre      

Thu 20th Apr - York - The Crescent          

Fri 21st Apr - Newport - Le Pub (SOLD OUT)

Sat 22nd Apr - Portsmouth - Wedgewood Rooms        

Sun 23rd Apr - Hertford - Hertford Corn Exchange

US SHOWS:

Sat 11th Mar - Brooklyn - St Vitus (NEW SHOW)

Tues 21st Mar - Los Angeles - Zebulon (NEW SHOW)

(Tickets for both shows on sale from Friday November 4th)

Plus SXSW festival in between - approx March 15-18 in Austin, Texas.

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

Release date: April 3^rd 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 3^rd 2020.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - King Of Cowards (Album Review)

Release date: September 28th 2018. Label: Rocket Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

King Of Cowards – Tracklisting

1.GNT

2.Shockmaster

3.A66

4.Thumbsucker

5.Cake Of Light 03:45

6.Gloamer

Members

Matt Baty (Vocals)

Sam Grant (Guitar)

Adam Ian Sykes (Guitar)

Christopher Morley (Drums)

John-Michael Hedley (Bass)

Review

Noise rock is a rather large and ubiquitous genre of music and a sort of de facto category for a band whose sound doesn’t easily fall into one of the more common categories of rock and metal. So here we have (from Outlaws head honcho Steve’s hometown of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) Pigs x7, who bring a truly unique brand of noise rock that carries elements of doom, metal, hardcore, jazz, and everything in between in every song. 

King of Cowards is the band’s second album following hot on the heels of last years stellar Feed the Rats. King of Cowards carries some of the same elements as Rats but doubles the songs (3 to 6) and somehow manages to be even more bombastic than its predecessor.

The vocals are angry and distorted, the tracks are loaded with feedback, dissonance and a shitload of riffs. 

All those are trademarks of any noise rock record worth its salt. However, what sets Pigs x7 apart is the surprising nuances of the record. Each new listen revealed another aspect of the songs that wasn’t as apparent the time before. That is what makes a record stunning and sets it apart from all the others.

The album opens with the bombastic GNT that brings in elements of space influenced guitar, a Queen like chorus and crunch heavy bass. The band brings in the Doom on the lumbering Shockmaster. The song is a bit slower and heavily distorted. It is worth note that Pigs x7 are not ones for brevity. Feed the Rats was a 40+ minute record that was 3 songs long. As noted, this record doubles the song, but not the time. With the first two tracks clocking in at over 6 minutes a piece. Another element of note is the band’s propensity for tempo change. 

All their songs are technically dynamic. Pigs x7 can fit as many tempo changes in one song as most bands fit into one album. With that said, comes the centrepiece of the record, at around 9 minutes, is the driving noise rock masterpiece A66. This song has a feel that is reminiscent of 90’s Touch & Go records, more particularly, Chicago’s beloved Jesus Lizard. A driving beat, heavy and angular guitars and the screamed chorus of “This beast is not very kind” hammer the song into a huge psych heavy finish. The foot does not come of the gas with Thumbsucker. The songs big, repetitive riff pummels the listener for 8+ minutes before a shift change into a big rock outro. At under 4 minutes, Cake of Light, is the most concise, straight ahead rock song on the record. Made memorable with some big drum crashes and a little bit of synth on the way out.

Gloamer closes the record in unique fashion. The track has guest vocals (my apologies for not knowing who this is) delivering some indie rock mantras over the bands crashing drums and angular, feedback laden guitars. An monumental closer to say the least.

I have very quickly become a huge fan of Pigs x7. As a kid that grew up on Touch & Go Records, Am-Rep style noise noise rock and the joyous anarchy of The Melvins. Pigs x7 have set themselves apart from the rest and taken position at the top of the noise rock world. Familiarise yourself with the band and grab a copy of King of Cowards, it is a unique and satisfying listening experience and unquestionable one of the best records of the year.

Todd S - Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp