Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy
British stoner metal band Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (Pigs x7 for short) is plodding into your dreams with their fourth studio album, Land of Sleeper. The acclaimed group continues to prove themselves with their winning combination of doom metal, stoner rock and psychedelic noise.
Land of Sleeper is about as heavy as heavy gets without falling over. The drum fills are abundant, the breakdowns are epic and the guitar tones are so thick with fuzz that they almost feel cozy. The album is simultaneously visceral and heady, merciful and unsparing, noisy and sparse.
According to an interview with the band’s lead guitarist Adam Ian Sykes, the opening track “‘Ultimate Hammer’ is the by-product of being trapped in the house and listening to too much ZZ Top, if there is such a thing.” The influence of ZZ Top is apparent throughout, and if imitation is flattery, ZZ Top would be particularly honored. Imitating a legend is a big swing, and in Land of Sleeper, it’s a big hit.
The album has a celestial undercurrent which adds some levity. Many of the lyrics are remarkably thoughtful, even wholesome. “I plant a seed and wait to see what will become / Of routine watering and the magic of the sun … Still, every day, I feel bad energies are here / But little signs of life make matters easier,” lead vocalist Matt Baty bellows in “Big Rig.”
Despite being significantly cleaner and leaner than their early albums, Land of Sleeper is still a slow footslog, especially on tracks like “The Weatherman.” The album is less a collection of songs and more a sonic immersion. Pigs x7 makes liberal use of rhythm switch-ups and breakdowns, bringing the music to a glacial creep before picking it back up again.
Hard rock fans may enjoy some of the faster tracks on the album like “Ultimate Hammer” and “Mr Medicine,” while doom metal and stoner metal fans will enjoy the slower songs. Land of Sleeper is also an exemplar album for introducing newcomers to these genres as the album is both palatable and authentic.
The album may be best enjoyed live, and there will be plenty of opportunities for that this year as the band has just embarked on an international tour with over 30 shows in nine countries. Pigs x7 is known for immersing themselves so deep in their performances that they reach a higher state of consciousness, so audiences are sure to enjoy that catharsis firsthand.
Whether live or at home, Land of Sleeper is a must-experience for both day-one and newcomer metalheads. Don’t sleep on Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs because they’re just getting started.
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