7/10

There’s a peculiar kind of exhilaration that comes with a band who sound like they’re on the verge of implosion—yet remain in perfect command. With their latest offering 'Death Hilarious', Newcastle’s sonic wrecking crew Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs once again throw themselves headfirst into the maelstrom, emerging with a record that’s both pulverising and strangely uplifting.

This is their fifth LP, but there’s no hint of fatigue or formula here. Instead, 'Death Hilarious' finds the band sharpening their teeth—leaner, meaner, and somehow more outrageous than ever. The guitars don’t so much riff as they batter, basslines coil like barbed wire, and drums stomp through the mix like a possessed parade. It’s a primal march wrapped in distortion and delivered with a knowing smirk.

And yet, for all its sludge and snarl, there’s a clarity of purpose in these tracks. This isn’t noise for its own sake—there’s a structure beneath the squall. 'Stitches' lands like a broken bottle kiss, all grit and urgency, while 'Glib Tongued'—with a surprise appearance from Run The Jewels' El-P—slithers with venomous charisma, the band’s sarcasm and venom distilled into five razor-edged minutes.

What sets 'Death Hilarious' apart from earlier work is how deliberate it feels. Not in the sense of restraint—this record is loud, angry, and unrelenting—but in its cohesion. Each track is a precise incision, an intentional act of audio disruption. The fury has direction, the madness has intent. There’s less jam, more judgment. And it works.