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Pig Destroyer

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Pig Destroyer

Pig Destroyer is an grindcore band from Virginia, United States. Unlike many other bands, they lack a bass guitar.

Biography

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. Evans was later replaced by Brian Harvey. Most of these early shows (located in small areas of Northern VA) were less than 10 minutes long and were considered to be the loudest and most brutal of its genre.

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. However, the band has become less political in recent times.

Relapse Records 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 boasted a much clearer sound than Prowler in the Yard or 38 Counts of Battery, 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). Session guitarist Matthew Kevin Mills, Hull'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"), a series of new songs (such as "Rejection Festish" and "Forgotten Child"), and covers of bands who could be considered an influence (such as The Stooges and Helmet).

Pig Destroyer have stated that they would release a series of 9 split 7" EPs in 2006. Bands on the flipside include Orthrelm and Blood Duster; however nothing has yet been released. The 7" series has been put on hold for the release of Phantom Limb.1

The official street dates for the new album "Phantom Limb" are June 12th 2007 (North America) and June 18th (International) via Relapse Records, complete with album artwork designed by John Baizley (Baroness, Torche)

Pig Destroyer also co-headlined Los Angeles Murderfest Version 3.0 on Sunday, March 25 2007 along with Brutal Truth and Cretin. 2

Members

Former

  • John Evans - Drums (1997-2001)
  • Donna Parker- Electronics (2006)
  • Jessica Ryan- Keyboard (2006)

Discography

Collaborations

  • We Reach: The Music Of The Melvins - covered the song "Claude". (2005)
  • Relapse Contamination Festival 2003 DVD (2004)
  • BMA vs Metal Blade vs Robotic Empire: Sampler 2004 (2004)
  • Contaminated 3.0 (2000)
  • Contaminated 5.0 (2003)
  • Contaminated, Vol. 6 (2004)
  • Contaminated: Relapse Records Sampler, Vol. 7 (2005)
  • Relapse Records Extreme Music Sampler (2005)

References


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