Album review: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Death Hilarious

Their still-ludicrous band name alone has always been a signpost locating Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs on the leftfield margins of the doom scene. Fifth full-length Death Hilarious continues their quest to think differently, packed with heavy riffing but refusing to cleave to any stereotype. This is a record where each song hits with its own character, running according to its own inner logic.

Collider and Stitches find them at their most accessible: the former reminiscent of doom-pop pioneers Torche, the latter a catchy glam rock stomper. Opener Blockage smashes the doors down with thrashy power, while The Wyrm’s huge crescendo of an intro swerves into a kinetic hybrid of Kyuss and Lemmy-era Hawkwind. Even when these Geordie heads allow their Sabbathian impulses to flow freely, there’s something subtly off-kilter going on – mighty closing track Toecurler sounds like an arthouse remake of Electric Wizard’s B-movie sleaze.

The headline-grabbing surprise is the guest spot from El-P on Glib Tongued, but the appearance of the erstwhile Run The Jewels MC makes sense on a track that rides an ominous groove unlike anything else in the Pigs… catalogue. Vocalist Matt Baty’s words here paint a picture of a stagnating society clinging to nostalgia, and across Death Hilarious his lyrics pack a particularly powerful punch. The pummelling Detroit is a timely study of male rage; Collider addresses insecurities and mental health concerns with the admission, ‘Recently I’ve been thinking I might not be so well.’

The sardonic humour that gave them their name is still present, and there are certainly moments here where what Pigs… provide is primarily big, dumb fun. But Death Hilarious also finds them thoroughly exploring their sonic and emotional range, the result an album which digs its hooks in deeper than ever.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Melvins, Torche, Orange Goblin

Death Hilarious is released on April 4 via Rocket