PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
The “Lord of the Lard” <PIG> is back with a crackling new album!
It doesn’t seem like 2 minutes since Raymond Watts released “The Merciless Light“, but that was back in 2022! Not one to let the grass grow underneath and around his trotters, Raymond has delivered another fantastic exercise in UK Industrial Electro with “Red Room“.
Kicking off with the very Rammsteinesque “Crumbs, Chaos, and Lies“, the first thing that hits is the chunky guitar riff – possibly the heaviest of his sizeable discography so far. It’s still typical <PIG> fare though – danceable and one you want to sing along to. Watt’s vocals are his usual mix of growled/sneered and clean styles, that perfectly suit the upbeat tune.
Watch the official video below, featuring Alexis Mincolla of 3Teeth
Now, you may expect more of this kind of guitar-driven industrial rock. But this is Raymond Watts, and as usual, he throws us a splendid curveball with the title track. This has a sinister electronic vibe, that should appeal to the NIN and late-era Depeche Mode fans. For me, it has shades of the DM track “Bullet From A Gun” off the “Ultra” album. Great stuff.
As we have heard with previous albums, Watts is not averse to experimenting with choral or almost gospel-style backing vocals. As a result “Dum Dum Bullet” has an ethereal chorus, which is in sharp contrast to the more disjointed dub-style electronica of the following track.
Chops, but no Sausages…
“Trash Temple” is chock full of choppy rhythms and guitar riffs, along with snarled vocals making for another track that will appeal to the rockers and metalheads in the room. The same applies to “Slave to Pleasure“, which has some wonderful little synth flourishes that raise the hairs (bristles?!) on your arms and neck.
A much slower tempo track may end up being the album’s sausage roll – crumbling apart as you listen. But fear not, this next track is haunting in its refrains, and some of the harshly whispered vocals. I find myself closing my eyes, and weaving in my chair to the beat and melody.
Spiders of the genus Sicarius are reputedly the most venomous in the world, and their common name is the title of the following track. “Six Eye Sand Spider” is one of Raymond’s metaphorical digs at the inequalities in this world caused by the rich and religion. It’s one of the most electronic tracks on the album, yet still kicks some serious arse.
Getting sleazy…
Yes, you do read that correctly! Following the spider, we now have a veritable <PIG> wallowing in the mud of sleazy riffs, vocals and lyrics. “If you’re gonna get down with a pig, you’re gonna get dirty“! Of all the 12 tracks we have here, this is the most fun to listen to, as it is upbeat and it makes you want to groove with it.
Starting with another sleazy kind of vibe delivered through a jazz-style muted trumpet “PIG is at The Window” is a slower more brooding track. The trumpet parts bring to mind the kind of club that someone like Al Capone would have run back in the day! Listen to it, and I’m sure you’ll agree!
Ten tracks down, and two to go…
So is Raymond leaving the choicest cuts until the last? Or are we dealing with a gnawed couple of spare ribs here? And the answer is, of course, not a jot! Continuing the more ominous sounds of some of the previous songs, “Body Count” is dark and brooding, with a slightly atonal piano flair every so often that both lifts and adds more tension to the narrative of Watt’s plaintive lyrics and singing.
Raymond rounds things out with “False Flag“, a song that drags you along with a funky bass line and dirty guitar licks. It’s a filthy groove that will have you lasviciously grinding against a door frame or bannister (erm if you’re that way inclined – which I am not, HONESTLY!!). And then abruptly it is over! 50 minutes have elapsed, and all you will want to do is go back to the beginning and listen to it all again!
Once again Mr Watts has dipped his snout into his musical trough and gifted us with another fantastic slab of catchy tunes that will appeal to a broader audience than just rivetheads and metal fans. I recommend repeated listening through headphones, as you will pick up on lots of little things you missed on the first and subsequent playthroughs!
The album is available now on Digital Download and CD formats
Track Listing
01 – Crumbs Chaos & Lies
02 – Red Room
03 – Dum Dum Bullet
04 – Does It Hurt Yet?
05 – Trash Temple
06 – Slave To Pleasure
07 – The Sick Man’s Prayer
08 – Six Eye Sand Spider
09 – Dirty Mercy
10 – PIG is at The Window
11 – Body Count
12 – False Flag
Line Up
Raymond Watts, with guest appearances by Alexis Mincolla (3Teeth), Chris Hall (Stabbing Westward), and the PIG Choir: Chris Connelly (Revco, Ministry etc), Emily Kavanaugh (Night Club), I Ya Toyah, Marc Heal (Cubanate) and Burton C Bell (Fear Factory), En Esch, Susannah Doyle, Anita Kyoda, Mark Alan Griffiths, Mike Watts, Jimmy Livingstone, and more!
Raymond Watts
Links
Official Website: https://pigindustries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lordofthelard/
Bandcamp: https://pigindustries.bandcamp.com/music
- £8.68
