Since signing to Southern Lord back in 2011 All Pigs Must Die have gone from strength to strength, with 2013’s ‘Nothing Violates This Nature’ gaining popularity of a monstrous magnitude. Housing members from the likes of Converge and The Hope Conspiracy, it’s understandable that this four-piece are strapped for time, making their albums and live appearances all the more desirable for fans due to their rarity. Ahead of their exclusive London show on July 5th we caught up with bassist, Matt Woods, to find out what the band has in store for us at this one off event, as well as why the term “blackened crust” is a term that should be used solely for food.
You guys are going to be playing a one off London date soon – do you have any special surprises for us? What kind of a set list can we expect?
No. No surprises per se. As far as a set list, I’d say that there will be a healthy mix of material from all of our releases, both slow & fast songs.
What’s the deal with the exclusivity of this show? No plans to do a full Euro tour? If not, why?
Well, the four of us are all very busy people with hectic work schedules, families, other commitments etc. It’s not for lack of desire to do more shows; it is a lack of time.
Have you had a chance to check out the supports? Which stand out the most for you?
All of the bands seem pretty cool. I’m out of touch with loads of new music nowadays so it was my first time hearing all of the bands when the show was announced. Should be a good time though.
‘Nothing Violates This Nature’ was released a couple of years ago, do you have any new material in the works; anything that might make an appearance at the upcoming show?
All of the new material exists in demo form and hasn’t been fully rehearsed or fleshed out to be played live. New riffs, ideas, concepts et al have been around and evolving since NVTN was completed.
You’re all involved in other projects, how do you fit in the writing and recording process for APMD?
Communication, careful scheduling & patience. It can be chaotic but is rewarding in the end.
Do you consider this band as important as the likes of Converge, Bloodhorse and The Hope Conspiracy, or is it more of a side project/hobby?
I can only speak for myself but Pigs is the most important thing to me outside of family & friends. It’s one of the first things I think about when I get up and one of the last when I go to sleep.
You guys are generally described as “crust” – how accurate would you say this is? Given that this was a movement that developed during the 80s in the UK how have you put your own spin on it?
I only think of Pigs as a heavy metal band as far as labels go. Sure, we employ the discharge beat but I’ve never really felt a connection to or all that inspired by a ton of stuff that would be described as crust. Maybe it’s different for the other guys? A lot of the genre naming and categorizing sounds to me like a menu at a BBQ restaurant. Blackened crust whatever or what have you. I’m all set with labels and more focused on heavy.
What do you guys do to keep the aggression alive in your music? What inspires your sound?
The aggression comes easy. All of us understand and enjoy the feeling of heavy music. That feeling when you hear something and you want to tear out your own oesophagus. As far as direct inspiration: Craft, Entombed, Black Flag, Sabbath, paranoia, hate, disgust… the overwhelming burden of pointlessness inherent in modern life and the refusal to cow to the illusion.
What’s next on the agenda for you once the London show is done?
Hopefully some more shows stateside and getting the ball rolling on new material.
Any final words?
Thank you very much for your interest in Pigs. It is greatly appreciated. It’s nothing short of incredible to me that we’ve done as much as we have and are on the precipice of playing overseas. I’m humbled & grateful.
(Interview by Angela Davey)
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