Pig Destroyer

Pig Destroyer: TerrifyerTerrifyer (2004)
Relapse Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: AubinAubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 5th 2004Pig Destroyer has largely been dismissed as a simple, if above average, grindcore band, and they've certainly been unfairly pigeonholed by their speed and intensity as being an enjoyable but unimportant act. And while their previous Relapse release Prowler in the Yard saw the band begin to esca.

Pig Destroyer has largely been dismissed as a simple, if above average, grindcore band, and they've certainly been unfairly pigeonholed by their speed and intensity as being an enjoyable but unimportant act. And while their previous Relapse release Prowler in the Yard saw the band begin to escape from the confines of grindcore - silly cover art aside - their new release Terrifyer completes the transition into a new category (avant-grind, post-grind?), occupied by a tiny group of peers like the extraordinary and inaccessible arty excess of Discordance Axis and the hardcore-tinged and political affectations of Nasum.

While the band's earliest works (captured conveniently on the lo-fi 38 Counts Of Battery) mostly focused on blast beats and screaming - the two pillars of the genre, Terrifyer eschews those conventions and incorporates a more dirty, punk-inflected sound with their rapid fire assault. The band itself seems hesitant to describe themselves as grindcore, or even metal, as the vocalist explains that "I have always considered us a punk band or a hardcore band" and nowhere is that more evident than throughout Terrifyer, which seems to take much from Stooges-style punk rock and old school thrash.

Despite the gore-inflected cover art displayed on the bands two full-lengths - which may unfortunately cause some to dismiss the band as another horribly contrived gore-grind act - the band's lyrical focus is far more literary, if a little depraved. Taking the same lyrical focus as covered on Converge's Jane Doe and injecting it with a little more psychologically-disturbing imagery, the "black romanticism" of the words certainly add an unforeseen depth to the proceedings.

Unlike many bands in related genres who seem to take some sort of joy in subjecting us to electronically downtuned growls which sound more like a belch with lyrics than a musical accompaniment, vocalist JR Hayes layers more human, emotionally ravaged vocals over the stripped down, but nonetheless powerful accompaniment of Scott Hull's seven strings and drummer John Evans. Put another way, he sounds like he's in pain, not a trash compactor.

It is also worth mentioning the included DVD audio track "Natasha," which runs longer than the entire record, and is provided in a engrossing 5.1 surround mix. The track focuses on a more ambient, cinematic structure and while not worth a purchase in and of itself, it certainly shows a different, introspective and restrained side of the band.

While I find most of Pig Destroyer's peers to be pretty laughable - what with their cookie monster vocals and speed for the sake of speed - Terrifyer is a forward thinking, aggressive record that doesn't need a relentless assault of blast beats to define itself. A cohesive, interesting release that will hopefully prove to be both influential and acclaimed.

Terrifyer ecard with two tracks

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (April 27, 2006)

Absolutley mind blowing.

mathematicscore (April 20, 2005)

Holy. This reviewer hit the nail on the head.

I honestly have little to add, except to say that You Fail Me by Converge should be checked out by anyone who liked Terrifyer.

Anonymous (December 7, 2004)

This album is honestly incredible. It is disturbing, haunting, and powerful. Unlike most grind which is stupid, yet fun, this album holds you and demands to be taken seriously. This is easily one of the best metal albums to come by me in years. Pick this up now. I reccommend it to anyone who is not afraid to tap into their dark sides.

Anonymous (December 3, 2004)

I picked this up, knowing nothing about Pig Destroyer, upon the recommendation of a stranger on a music board I frequent. It's been in my CD player for 2 weeks straight. The intensity of the music alone, has brought tears of joy to my heart! My musical heart being encased in Metal since I was a teenager; I was beginning to feel that it was entombed. Feeble attempts to warm it with old matchsticks whose efficacious sulphur was long gone (Black Sabbath, Slayer, Dillinger Escape Plan ;) proved only to piss me off and wonder what the hell was going to happen to the axe-driving, screw-grinding, brain-frying genre of Metal.
This album has freed and obliterated my metal-loving heart, splattering it with blood poetry. I have never heard anything so hard and so refreshing.
Terrifyer is bringing me to a new era. Get your player and headphones, and run to your local music shop and buy this album!

Anonymous (November 9, 2004)

Since when does Toby Keith offer his advice on www.punknews.org?

Anonymous (November 8, 2004)

Use soul seek and download the album, they incouraged everyone to download their CD's at their live show.

Anonymous (November 8, 2004)

yo any mp3s anywhere motherfuckers?

thirtyseconds (November 8, 2004)

Nice. I'll check this out.

ElVaquero (November 8, 2004)

Fags is gay.

stevejonestherealbones (November 7, 2004)

"Haha, I love how the P.C. brigade comes rushing out to play whenever anyone says 'fags'"

i was just about to mention this. dude didnt even say something about how gay fags are for being such queermos and sucking dick and all that jazz. dude just said "you fags can stop arguing now" or something. then of course bsd talks about homophobia cause he has no hand eye coordination.

- jones

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

they scream in harmony

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

screamo community?

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

Haha, I love how the P.C. brigade comes rushing out to play whenever anyone says 'fags'

Anchors (November 7, 2004)

Homophobia is probably the least prevalent of issues in the screamo community. You obviously have no idea whatsoever as to what you're talking about.

The only area it would exist in is with tough-guy hardcore. And if you listen to that, you're a jackass anyway.

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

"These kinds of bands shouldn't make records over 23 minutes."

Seriously, that is the fukken truth. And for that matter no band should ever play for more than 20 minutes unless they are the headliner.

Records should last about as long as a 40oz,
Live sets should last about as long as a pitcher.

-Ken

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

Most homophobes on a "punk" messageboard are more likely to be fans of hardcore or screamo or something that doesn't involve any type of even shallow awareness.

-BSD

Anchors (November 6, 2004)

10 bucks said the kid who said fags is a Casualties fan.

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

Who else thinks the cover art is sexy?

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

alexisonfire and the locust are both shit. you fags can stop bickering now

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

This album really shows Pig Destroyer musical talent.

And in case anyone is curious they started out as a hardcore political/punk band called "cop Destroyer"

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

"The Locust are awful."

Go listen Alexisonfire.

-BSD

Jesse (November 6, 2004)

Remember, that last comment is from someone who loves Alexisonfire.

Anchors (November 6, 2004)

The Locust are awful.

bizzlebrizzle (November 6, 2004)

Pig Destroyer is descent as hell, I usually don't like most grindcore bands cuz they tend to use the stupid death metal style vocals

kewl (November 6, 2004)

Amazing.

period.
exclamation point.
oneoneone.

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

This band owns your soul.

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

Metal is gay

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

MP3S?

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

This band slays.

-Jesse

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

Alright. I'll buy a Locust album instead, I enjoyed what I heard from them. I checked this record's length on allmusic.com, and it runs at 30 minutes. Way too long for a thrash record. These kinds of bands shouldn't make records over 23 minutes.

maverick (November 6, 2004)

"Are these guys as "extreme" as Dillinger Escape Plan?"

They are far more extreme. Dillinger, for all their chaos, is incredibly calculated. These songs are just minute-long blasts of intensity and destruction.

That being said, I couldn't get through one whole listen. It rocked plenty, but I knew I would never listen to it ever again.

-Scott

Anonymous (November 6, 2004)

Damn, Aubin...you know your shit! I didn't think you were as up on the "extreme" side of punk as much. Good review!

-Ken

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

Are these guys as "extreme" as Dillinger Escape Plan?

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

Best CD all year hands down. Pig destroyer fucking kills, rips, and smashes all at once.

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

what is grindcore any way? Does it make me grind me teeth? Score is for hXc.

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

mmmmm.. titties..