ONE of the city’s few independent music venues being full on a Monday night was a delightful sight, as we collectively awaited audio slaughter at the hands of Pigs x7.
The Newcastle five-piece stoner metal group Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - typically and thankfully shortened to Pigs x7 - have been mesmerising their strong army of followers since they debuted last decade.
One of the larger acts to attend The Brickyard in Carlisle, it was perhaps to be expected to see the venue crammed full of a diverse array of rock fans, but as I had gone in without hearing their songs I had no idea what to expect, other than sheer volume.
Preceding the main act was Manchester-based Thraa, a duo consisting of Sally Mason and Andi Jackson that provided a sumptuous earthquake of layered, overdriven drones that you could feel in your teeth, dense enough to chew, while vibrations felt as if the world was crumbling around my feet.
Joining the sounds were videos of nature from flowers growing and dying to waves crashing, and symphonies of light, akin to the more psychedelic efforts of visual artists and directors like Stanley Kubrick and Gaspar Noe.
Both artists utilised extended technique and effects to masterfully smelt wrathful roars and textures with their stringed instruments, Andi appearing almost as if was breaking in a wild horse at times, during their jaw-dropping service of amplifier worship.
It was perhaps the perfect opener, as where Thraa delved into the wide space of metal’s extent, Pigs x7 countered with a microscopic approach – the feeling of being blown apart by Neptune’s winds at first, and with the main act being bagged and dragged to a human meat factory and force-fed a gallon of PCP.
Pigs took to the stage with fire and fury and proceeded to spend the next hour and 10 minutes wondrously obliterating us all as their filth-drenched shockwaves infested our skulls.
Frontman Matthew Baty showcased an extremely commanding stage presence, jumping and thrashing from edge to edge, interacting with the audience, and heartily screaming his heart out to those desperate to hear it.
The thunder was met with lightning as strobe lights disoriented and hypnotised, while the heat from the audience raised heartbeats and demanded our ascension.
Thankfully we were allowed occasional breathers as Mr Baty took to pointing out the scandal of music stadia making millions on major tours like Oasis, while independent music venues like The Brickyard often struggle – he also awarded the ‘best headbanger’ with a novelty toy from the local Entertainer.
The evening crescendoed as the Pigs launched into their final few songs, closing in on their faster and more aggressive items of discography.
It was all over in a relative flash and we all decided it was time to go, bodies steaming on the way to the exits.
Carlisle now anxiously awaits their return, hungry for more.
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