SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PIG – SWINE & PUNISHMENT

PIG
Swine & Punishment
Metropolis Records

It is late and I hear thunder in the distance and the night is bound to get better thanks to PIG and friends. I had forgotten how late it really was because I kept raising the volume, while listening to this superb remix album of songs from PIG. The Gospel must be enjoyed loud. “Viva Evil (Oumi Kapila Remix)” starts off as a bit of a diabolical lullaby which progresses into so many elements of why I love PIG. Its atmosphere makes me want to keep on listening to the whole album, but the next song had to wait because I kept repeating the first track. This is how you start a record. “Found In Filth (Pull Out Kings Remix)” made me want to dance from the very start. if Lux Interior had not left this mortal coil, I would have loved to hear him cover this tune, it would have been a perfect fit. If this doesn’t play next time I am on some raggedy industrial dance floor, I will be quite disappointed.  “The Diamond Sinners (Skold Remix)” turns it into an absolutely sensual melody, a great way of entering the domain of Reverend Raymond Watts. “The Fly Upon The Pin (Android Lust Remix)” is done flawlessly and makes me want to wander in a boat with no compass, it is that soothing to me that I do not mind being lost at sea with this song.

There is something so very interesting about remixes, when they are well made, such as the ones on Swine & Punishment.  Two artists in the same genre can reinterpret the same song in diferent ways.  For example,  “Viva Evil (Inertia Remix)” is quite different from the Oumi Kapila Remix, quite danceable and with a steady beat that makes me shake my hips and stomp my boots. “The Diamond Sinners (Indradevi Remix)” also with its own hand-clapping good vibe. I can easily see a choir chanting this and the scene is quite amusing in my head. “Viva Evil (Mortiis Remix”), is so good! Mortiis is fantastic and this Remix does not let me down, the third rendition of the song so far and still unique. “The Fly Upon The Pin (St.Gregory Mix” is darker, there is something between prophetic and dystopic about this take on the song.

“The Diamond Sinners (London After Midnight Remix)”, is the dream collaboration of my past 19 year old self and what a great satisfaction it is for my current self to listen to this. “Found in Filth – (MC Lord Of The Flies Remix)”.  What I said earlier about being disappointed if the Pull Out Kings Remix of this song doesn’t play at a club? Same goes for this remix as well! Hell, I want to take some burlesque lessons and build an act around this. “The Diamond Sinners (KANGA Remix”) is very interesting, one of the more mellow remixes on the album but so very complex. “Drugzilla (Dubzilla Mix)”, I like the placement of this, the previous track eases us into this one and allows total inmmersion.

“The Diamond Sinners (tweaker remix)” is a song II really cannot get tired of and would be absolutely happy with an album that remixed this and this alone, so the fact that there are five versions of it, is satisfying. “Viva Evil (Swine Haze remix)” is proof that this is not a common remix album. They got some of the best artists in the scene to remix The Gospel and the results are a solid album that stands by itself as well as a companion of the originals in The Gospel. Swine & Punishment ends with “Violence” which is simply flawless and make me want to scream: “Praise The Lard! Hallelujah!” as bells chime.

Tour Dates

6/28 Detroit, MI @ Smalls
6/30 Chicago, IL @Reggies
7/1 St Paul, MN @Amsterdam
7/2 Kansas City, MO @Riot Room
7/3 St Louis, MO @Crack Fox
7/5 Albuquerque, NM @Launchpad
7/7 Denver, CO @The Venue
7/8 Salt Lake City @Metro Music HAll
7/10 Seattle, WA @Highline
7/11 Portland, OR @Star Theater
7/13 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
7/14 Glendale, CA @Complex
7/15 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
7/16 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
7/19 El Paso,TX @ Lowbrow Palace
7/20 Austin, TX @ Elysium
7/21 San Antonie, TX @Amp Room
7/22 Houston, TX @Numbers
7/23 Dallas, TX @House of Blues
7/25 Tampa, FL @Orpheum
7/26 Miami, FL @Churchills
7/30 Calgary, AB @Terminus Festival
8/1 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
8/2 Durham, NC @Motorco Music Hall
8/3 Richmond, VA @Fallout
8/4 New York, NY @Stimulate at Drom
8/5 Willmington, DE @Mojo13
8/6 Boston, MA @Brighton Music Hall
8/8 Montreal, QC @Piranha Bar
8/10 Niagara Falls, NY Evening Star Concert Hall
8/11 Cincinnati, OH @DF Nights
8/12 Pittsburgh, PA @Cattive
8/13 Cleveland, OH @ Phantasy Nightclub

Artist Links