The Apparatus - Pig Destroyer

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Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb

Tuesday, 11 December 2007

Editor's rating

8.3

out of 10

Reviewed by:
Alex Harrison
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Tuesday, 11 December 2007
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Music Information

Track Listing:
01. Rotten Yellow
02. Jupiter's Eye
03. Deathtripper
04. Thought Crime Spree
05. Cemetery Road
06. Lesser Animal
07. Phantom Limb
08. Loathsome
09. Heathen Temple
10. Fourth Degree Burns
11. Alexandria
12. Girl in the Slayer Jacket
13. Waist Deep in Ash
14. the Machete Twins

Artist: Pig Destroyer
Title: Phantom Limb
Genre: Grindcore
Release Date: 12 June 2007
Record Label: Relapse Records
Format: Full-length
Country: United States of America
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Editor review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful


Overall rating (weighted)		8.3
Musicianship		8.0
Composition		9.0
Experimentation		7.0
Production		9.0
Value		9.0

Pig Destroyer hold a special place in my heart, not only have they been creating dissonant, abrasive grindcore for around 10 years but they manage to stay fresh and never repeat themselves or subject themselves to a formula, which is a rarity these days. Phantom Limb proves that they are on top of their game and instead of putting out releases that are increasingly worse like most artists, Pig Destroyer just get better. J.R. Hayes' vocals are still raw and his lyrics are still intelligent and, the best way I've read them described, "uncomfortably personal" and that is without a doubt the best way to describe them. With lyrics dealing with insanity, dabbling in nihilism and there's even a a song about a pair of homicidal sisters, it's like reading some twisted book by a combination of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein. Hayes' lyrics do not hold back, their anger and intensity permeate inside you until you can almost feel his pain.

Scott Hull is still the master of the riff, showcasing his skills admirably on Phantom Limb. Each new album Pig Destroyer create, I am always surprised that Hull never ceases to create such varied guitar riffs that are easily recognizable as Pig Destroyer riffs, yet manage to be completely new. Each song is noticeably different in structure with some riffs being unrelenting and fast such as on "Through Crime Spree", some being more sludge infused, slower riffs and some even have a taste of death metal ("Heathen Temple"). And don't forget about about Mr.Harvey, he still punishes his drum set to an almost inhumane degree. He manages to play fast, cranking out blast beats like it's his job while still being creative and not leaving any piece on the set untouched. I'm sure his mother is proud (they practice in her basement). Finally, there's Blake Harrison in the background, whose use of electronics on the album certainly give the album an extra edge, and his contribution with the bass guitar is certainly a welcome addition.

Now, if you were worrying about Pig Destroyer maybe going soft or selling out like is so common in any scene today, don't you worry. Their latest release is a fucking monster and it will grab your unsuspecting little head and turn it on end. With each new release Pig Destroyer seem to get bigger, angrier and arguably better and better. The way they're going there is nothing and nobody dumb enough to stop them as they ravage the ears of their unsuspecting listeners.

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