PIGS- ‘You Ruin Everything’ (11/04/2011 – Solar Flare Records)

   A New York City group, PIGS have unleashed their new record on the world, produced by Andrew Schneider.  ‘You Ruin Everything’ was released on the 11^th of April and the band claim it is powerful, very sharp and after playing live shows for over two decades, a blend of their efforts to date.

    Unapologetically tearing at your ear drums; ‘Give It’ is an ear-splitting blend of Heavy Metal, Screamo and Rock elements, to form PIGS’ style. PIGS manage to remain rhythmic despite their heavy formats, but vocals, particularly in ‘Whitewash’ are difficult to decipher, making the track lose all potential for hard-hitting purpose. The band’s songwriting is very variety driven, which helps showcase their various genre inputs, influences and skills, but as soon as vocals come into play, simplistic, steady drumming seems to be the band’s safe option to keep their songs flowing.

'You Ruin Everything': Artwork

    With his grungy, sluggish backbone, ‘Massive Operator Error’, PIGS, who claim to have chosen their name because it was short enough for the press to remember, illustrate their Sludge- Metal hold.  ‘Drained’ and ‘Outburst Calendar’ appear to continue the ‘fuck-you-and-fuck-everything’ approach PIGS have to music, with angry outbursts, different styles of songwriting and decent instrumentation and vocals, it is not difficult to see why ‘You Ruin Everything’ has caught the eye of many a Metal fan already.

      ‘Contribution Dilemma’ is a breakneck, heated and lurid track, which showcases what PIGS are all about; expressing yourself through anger. But when the band turns it down a notch, and makes use of a gentler tempo, without losing their grip on the listener, as they do for ‘Scrum’ and ‘Small c Celebrity’ listeners have the chance to comprehend their efforts as well as enjoy them.  

PIGS...and a dog

     Well produced but still very organic feeling, ‘You Ruin Everything’ comes to a close with ‘Mashantucket’ and ‘At Least its An Ethos’ (Parts 1 and 2) and PIGS manage to hold their own as well as their genre.  However interesting musically, the extensive instrumentals can come across as tiresome until a brassy vocal or thunderous guitar solo is thrown into the mix.

2/5