By:
Ernesto Aguilar
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 27/10/ 2017
Label: Southern Lord Recordings
The
riffs are ceaseless as Wentworth and Izzi vary from much faster chords into a
war chorus of tonality. And the results are gripping at every second.
“Hostage Animal” CD//DD//LP track listing
1. Hostage Animal
2. A Caustic Vision
3. Meditation of Violence
4. Slave Morality
5. End Without End
6. Blood Wet Teeth
7. Moral Purge
8. Cruelty Incarnate
9. The Whip
10. Heathen Reign
The Review:
Few
albums have been more anticipated this year than the return of All Pigs Must Die. Much has been made over the years of the
group's pedigree – Kevin Baker, Ben Koller, Matt Woods, Adam Wentworth and now
Brian Izzi boast some of the best names in metal and hardcore among their
curricula vitae – and, with each release, All Pigs Must Die has
grown all the more challenging. Their combination of crust punk's most ragged
strands, extreme music's most booming guitars and the sort of hostility that is
aberrant even in a scene where aggressive themes are the norm has drawn the
attention the band richly deserves.
When
the band debuted in 2010, the term 'supergroup' got floated about a bit, even
if the results were tentatively solid. With "God Is War" in 2011, APMD set itself apart
thematically as well as with a fury fans today know intimately, However, you
might be forgiven if you were distracted by the confrontational art of "God Is War," which instead presented
more than a few complicated tales, including apostasy with the unfolding of colonialism
("Third World Genocide"),
child soldiers ("Pulverization")
and the illicit arms trade ("Death
Dealer"). Momentum only built by 2013's "Nothing Violates This Nature." At this point APMD evolved lyrically into what can best be heard as a
strong death metal influence. The imagery on "Nothing…" went from heavily topical to nihilistic and
gruesome. The music's heaviness matched this approach. The slight swerve did
not detract fans from following APMD to its newest
stage.
"Hostage Animal" has been about four
years in the making and marks a significant departure for the band. Its violent
style, which has been compared over time to Slayer, Morbid Angel and even punk/noise legends The Jesus Lizard, is moving into a territory where APMD uses hardcore, thrash and speed as a base for a
devilish sound in which it finds few peers. Its songwriting sees a similar kind
of growth. The two paths it cut – "God
is War"'s sociopolitical commentary and "Nothing"'s all-out anti-religion brutality – merge on the
forthcoming album. Again, APMD has only a few
worthy contemporaries in this regard.
The
title track starts the recording off with breakneck speed and power. Kevin Baker's
ferocious vocals from the jump are a refresher on why his style has been
likened to prime (read: Scratch Acid-era) David
Yow. His command of the mic on "A
Caustic Vision" and into "Meditation
of Violence" is spellbinding in just how searing Baker is. Lyrically, APMD intersect a few themes, but the standouts are Adam
Wentworth and newcomer Brian Izzi, whose guitar work on the opening trio and
then the rolling "Slave
Morality" are the stuff of nightmares. The riffs are ceaseless as
Wentworth and Izzi vary from much faster chords into a war chorus of tonality.
And the results are gripping at every second.
Also
turning in a blistering performance, and deserving a lot of credit for the
power of "Hostage Animal"
are drummer Ben Koller (Converge) and bassist
Matt Woods (Bloodhorse). If you are familiar with those
acts, perhaps one of the most underappreciated aspects was the respective
contributions of Woods and Koller, who are gifted in ways few in heavy music
are in terms of their ability to bring out the best in a song's foundations.
They stun on "End Without
End," where Koller lights the rhythm and Woods pairs up with the
guitars and Baker's vociferous delivery. They also manage to shift their
playing as "Hostage Animal"
evolves. Hear a sturdily punk track like "Blood
Wet Teeth" and a song like "Cruelty
Incarnate," with its elements of sludge pouring into thrash and you
get a real sense of how APMD's bass and drums
anchor the release.
"Hostage Animal" closes with the
record's most fascinating entry, "Heathen
Reign." Not only is it noteworthy for its lyrics (which you will just
have to listen to – no spoilers), but it slightly variegates the bludgeoning
you get in the first nine tracks into a pensive conclusion. It even leaves you
wondering if this may just be where the next release picks up. It, like
previous selections, is potent with APMD's militancy. Best
of all, APMD made the wait well worth it.
"Hostage
Animal" is available to preorder/buy here
