Viscerals＜Blood & Guts Vinyl/限定盤＞

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs are a band that sounds monolithic and thoroughly menacing, as if Black Sabbaths younger brothers got ahold of some bad dope and decided it was time to punish the world for its mistakes. It isnt always easy to sound smart and creative while youre beating the same set of riffs into the ground for 15 minutes at a stretch, as Pigsx7 did on their first full-length album, 2017s Feed the Rats, but they managed to pull that off. However, theyve opted for a marginally more accessible approach on their third LP, 2020s Viscerals, where most of the tracks are five minutes or less. If the violence comes in shorter bursts, that doesnt mean Pigsx7 are any less muscular or any more cheerful; Viscerals is rooted deep in heavy guitar riffs and a brutal rhythmic stomp, and the billows of psychedelia and reports of sheer noise that bubble to the surface only make it sound more like a trip that isnt going to make you feel better about life. Vocalist Matt Baty has the ability to sound literate as he howls his discontent, though, like the product of a brief dalliance between David Yow and Jon Langford, and the 99-second interlude Blood and Butter suggests these guys have a sense of humor, albeit one thats very, very dark. Guitarists Sam Grant and Adam Ian Sykes dominate the arrangements, aiming for sheer impact rather than showy licks, but when they do allow room for solos, they fill the spaces with relevant textures before getting back to the matters at hand. Bassist John-Michael Hedley makes the most of his role in the group, with his thick, rubbery lines giving the melodies (such as they are) valuable support, and the fact Christopher Morleys drums can not only be heard through it all but hold it all in place is honestly remarkable. If the shorter length of the tracks makes Viscerals a bit easier to swallow, Halloween Bolson (nine minutes) and New Body (seven minutes) show Pigsx7 are still capable of wearing you out and bending your ears to their will. If youre looking for a soundtrack to the end of the world, which isnt necessarily out of the question in 2020, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs are here for you, and Viscerals allows you to stare angrily into the abyss in grand style. ~ Mark Deming