The sludge rock behemoths finally bring the live incarnation of their third album, Viscerals, to Newcastle’s Cluny
Image by Jade Sweeting
By the time sludge rock behemoths Pigsx7 play The Cluny this December to celebrate their third album, Viscerals, it will be over 20 months since the release of the record. Until Covid-enforced isolation, it seemed they were on an unstoppable rise, achieving the sort of mainstream success that is relatively unheard of for a band with riffs so heavy you feel like your eyeballs may melt: Viscerals reached number one in the UK independent record store chart, number two in the UK vinyl charts and dominated the 6Music airwaves.
To say the anticipation surrounding their three homecoming gigs (two of which are already sold out) is palpable is something of an understatement. To best appreciate the power of Pigsx7 is to witness their incendiary live show – there’s something almost ritualistic about their wall of noise sonics and vocalist Matt Baty’s guttural howls delivered barefoot and bare-chested.
“It’s been liberating being back on tour,” explains guitarist Adam Ian Sykes. “We’re very glad the Newcastle dates are the last of the tour, there’s something special about hometown shows, something I struggle to put my finger on, but signing the tour off at home will be a good feeling. The dates have changed venue three times. For them to have finally landed at The Cluny and having the need to add a third date is a very pleasant surprise.”