PIG DESTROYER

PIG DESTROYER has been relatively quiet in recent times, aside from capturing the attention of many with the addition of bassist John Jarvis and playing the odd show or festival. The recent reissue of the classic "Prowler in the Yard", then, serves to remind the old folks and to educate the younglings about the early period of one of the most important modern grindcore bands.

PIG DESTROYER vocalist J.R. Hayes had eschewed the prototypical politically minded grind lyrics by this time in favor of twisted prose reminiscent of Dax Riggs's work with ACID BATH. His warped words are more than just pensive. They don't simply capture the dark side of the human mind; they celebrate it, on the surface, anyway, regardless of how one may infer meaning on a subtextual level. And he passionately screams the lyrics with a lambasting delivery that fits like a glove within the music's coarseness.

It's hard to believe that so much intensity exploded from the band which was just a trio at that point, including Hayes, drummer Brian Harvey (since replaced by MISERY INDEX's Adam Jarvis) and guitarist Scott Hull.

"Prowler in the Yard" is grind, and it's thrash metal on crack. The slow and mid-paced belligerence — like the filthy sludge riffs tightening the noose toward the end of "Starbelly" — is certainly more palatable to, say, a SLIPKNOT fan seeking something more intense.

PIG DESTROYER has stood out from the more indecipherable blur of more standard grind outfits because of its sense of groove and catchiness. However, their more obvious tumultuous grind element is probably beyond comprehension and appreciation for those just passing by.

The "Prowler in the Yard" reissue includes remixed tracks, "Jennifer 2" as an individual track that was originally buried at the end of "Piss Angel" when the album was initially released, and a previously unreleased untitled track.