Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, New Century. 11th April 2025

I seem to be locked in a two year cycle with Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs. Rebellion in 2019, Albert Hall 2021, The Ritz 2023 and a fourth outing tonight in New Century. Absence makes the heart grow fonder they say and mine is ready to be pummelled again. Their fifth record, Death Hilarious came out last week and is packed with the sort of sexy psych stoner metal we love them for. ‘The Wyrm’ from that record is where we start, after AC/DC has whipped the already warm room into a poised pit of pending power. We are indeed about to rock. There’s a lot packed into ‘The Wyrm’. An instrumental that slowly takes on more structure before twisting back to a doom mental monster. “I wasted so much time” screams Baty as he plays with his mic lead. Boy are they loud, gloriously so. ‘Mr Medicine’ sees Baty hit his stride early with his heavy yoga routine. Always the focus, more on that later. He’s the hype man taking on both the persona of wresting announcer and both fighters. ‘Ultimate Hammer’ foxes some who were expecting a Venga Boys cover. I could explain why but it’s more fun to leave that hanging. I’ll be honest I was expecting it to go off more, but it’s quite calm, even down the front as they tear into ‘Reducer’. I’ll admit up to this point we’ve largely been in one fast and furious gear, but ‘Reducer’ does switch it down as it follows Baty’s menacing baritone drone. Things get more energised on ‘Carousel’ but I think your average Pigs fan is content to stand still, bob appreciatively and let the wall of guitars and drum smack them in the face. Which this does very well. ‘Stitches’ has more bounce and gets the room cooking. As great as Pigs are, you want the room engaged and this finally ties it together, pulling the biggest cheer so far. After some theatrics introducing the band, Baty apparently making amends for stealing the limelight, it’s time for ‘GNT’. It’s undeniable that the crowd are more reactive to the old favourites and this near levels the front of the room. I’d forgotten really how uncompromising they are live. ‘World Crust’ is an intense workout, I’m boiling and I’m not even in the pit. I look at Baty pouring water over his head with envy. ‘Big Rig’ lives up to its name. It’s like massive slabs of thickly reenforced metal smashing together, as we take a severe sonic bludgeoning. ‘Blockage’ though is a noodley bastard. Like Ocean Colour Scene nailed to an atom bomb. Not a sentence I was expecting to type this evening. I’m wearing earplugs but the speed metal finale forces me to push them in deeper. Granted I’m right next to the speakers, but fuck me they sound dangerous. A lad called Charlie wins “Headbanger of the Evening” and gets a cap up on stage as reward, then he stands on my foot as he rejoins the masses for ‘Collider’, one of the stand outs on the new record. They close with ‘A66’. Pints fly. Limbs fly. There’s a walking stick in the pit. It’s  carnage. Beautifully carnage. That sums up a Pigs gig, it’s a bit chaotic. They seem to be in control, but it’s raw and visceral. It’s not the best I’ve seen them, but it’s not far off. I’m sure I’ll be back in two more years.