The fifth album from Newcastle's riff wizards Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs is defined by calculated aggression and self-lacerating lyrics. Its startling bonuses include playful synth work and the appearance of a giant from hip-hop. With its title juxtaposing absurdity and seriousness, this is Death Hilarious.
Whereas 2023's Land Of Sleeper was conceived as an immersive headphones experience, this time Pigs strove for something more directly hostile. "We wanted it to be a slap in the face," grins producer and guitarist Sam Grant. That objective came, in part, from playing so many gigs over the last couple of years.
The band felt well-oiled and ripe to give listeners at home the kind of pummelling their audiences receive. Death Hilarious does bring in some big surprises, particularly the track 'Glib Tongued', which has guest bars by El-P from Run The Jewels. When bassist John-Michael Hedley unwittingly wrote what his bandmates considered their equivalent of a hip-hop number, Pigs set their sights high and secured a blistering contribution from one of the world's greatest rappers.
That's not to say Pigs have pivoted to nu-metal. Death Hilarious is a diversely punishing record which shapeshifts through Sabbathian doom, grotesquely minimalist noise rock and cyclical post-metal fortissimos. Pigs continue to push themselves, too.
Incongruous synthesiser solos appear where guitar histrionics would usually fit. Piano tracks lurk in the mix, adding near-subliminal depth to the maelstrom. 'Stitches' is like Motörhead trying to perform glam rock with a tipsy keyboardist. Then there's the 100mph pace of cosmic-thrash opener 'Blockage'.
Distorted licks flying from the amplifiers of Grant and lead guitarist, Adam Ian Sykes, while the rhythm section sizzle behind.