Pig Destroyer
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Pig Destroyer is an extreme metal band from Virginia, United States. Combining elements of grindcore, death metal, and doom metal, Pig Destroyer have pushed the boundaries of their chosen genres and gained a loyal following in the process. Their unique sound is characterized by, amongst other things, an absence of bass guitar.
The band formed in 1997 with vocalist J.R. Hayes of Enemy Soil, guitarist Scott Hull of Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Anal Cunt, and Japanese Torture Comedy Hour, and drummer John Evans. John Evans was later replaced by Brian Harvey.
The band chose their name motivated by a strong socio-political consciousness. Believing that naming themselves "Cop Killer" or "Cop Destroyer" would be tactless, they eventually settled on "Pig Destroyer" ("pig" being a pejorative American slang term for the police). Derived from a non-musical source as extreme as the band's sound, Pig Destroyer's easily identifiable logo was created using the emblem from the infamous ANSWER Me! magazine as a template. The band has become less political in recent times, causing some fans to believe that the name no longer holds the meaning it once did.
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[edit] Releases
Relapse signed the band and issued a split 7" with Isis on the label's Singles Series in July 2000. 38 Counts of Battery was a complete discography of Pig Destroyer releases up to the year 2000, which included split records with Gnob and influential screamo act Orchid, as well as their debut album Explosions In Ward 6 and the demo that secured their record deal.
Prowler in the Yard, released in 2001, was the first of the band's records to really break through to what could contextually be considered the "mainstream". Garnering rave reviews from popular press such as Kerrang! and Terrorizer, the record earned Pig Destroyer headlining slots at the 2002 New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and the 2002 Relapse Records CMJ Showcase, as well as a high placing at 2003's Relapse Contamination Fest alongside scene legends High On Fire and The Dillinger Escape Plan (documented on the Relapse Contamination Fest DVD).
2004's Terrifyer is generally considered the band's best work to date. Boasting a much clearer sound than Prowler... or 38 Counts..., the album received universally positive attention. As well as lyrics and prose from Hayes, the record came with an accompanying DVD soundscape entitled "Natasha", which was intended to be listened to in Surround Sound (although a more recent Japanese edition of the album has Natasha as an ordinary CD, with four bonus tracks). A session guitarist named Matthew Mills, Scott's former guitar teacher, recorded the lead guitar parts in the song 'Towering Flesh.'
Official promotional videos have surfaced for two Pig Destroyer tracks: "Piss Angel" from Prowler... and "Gravedancer" from Terrifyer, both of which received little airplay due to their extreme nature and short running time.
A compilation of tracks from the split EPs with Gnob and Benümb is also available, entitled Painter of Dead Girls. The album features alternative versions of older songs from the 38 Counts era, such as "Dark Satellites", as well as covers of bands who could be considered an influence, such as The Stooges and Helmet.
Pig Destroyer have stated that they will release a series of 9 split 7" EPs in 2006 - bands on the flipside include Orthrelm and Blood Duster, amongst others.
[edit] Members
- J.R. Hayes - Vocals
- Scott Hull - Guitar
- Brian Harvey - Drums
- Blake Harrison - Noise
[edit] Former
Brian Evans - Drums (1997-1998)
[edit] Discography
- Pig Destroyer / Orchid (Split EP, 1997)
- Demo (Demo, 1997)
- Explosions In Ward 6 (Full-length, 1998)
- Pig Destroyer / Gnob (Split EP, 1999)
- Pig Destroyer / Isis (Split EP, 2000)
- 7" Picture Disc (EP, 2000)
- 38 Counts of Battery (Compilation of all preceding releases.)
- Prowler in the Yard (Full-length, 2001)
- Benumb / Pig Destroyer (Split album, 2002)
- Painter of Dead Girls (Tracks from Gnob and Benumb split 2004)
- Terrifyer (Full-length, 2004)
