Pig Pen - Mental Madness

Pig Pen try their damnedest across ‘Mental Madness’, and while it does indeed channel its namesake, it also feels somewhat monotonous. Fantastic for those who just want something to thrash to, lacklustre for the rest, who know hardcore is more than just one tone and one key. Indeed, the record was written and recorded in just two days, giving it a rushed, one-note feeling. Fronted by chef and star of FX’s The Bear, Matty Matheson, the band is also comprised of Alexisonfire’s Wade Macneil and all of Daniel Romano’s Outfit, joining forces to share their take on the classic ‘80s hardcore that they grew up loving. Attempting to incorporate some aspects and elements of post-hardcore, punk and metal to the mix, the whispers of these other genres are sadly soon drowned out on a record that becomes fairly predictable by the fifth track. It’s a formidable attempt, but often feels like the band struggle to find an identity of their own, and lack the sense of cohesion it takes to make a record that doesn’t feel repetitive. ‘Rabid Beach’, ‘Heat Wave’, and ‘Mental Mentality’ feel interchangeable, while ‘Pig Pen’, ‘Power Love Train’, and ‘Highway’ feel like small glimmers of hope, channelling rock’n’roll and metal techniques and sounds before they’re soon drowned out by the monotonous hardcore rhythms the band often fall into. ‘Mental Madness’ doesn’t linger long on the conscience, and frankly, it’s hard for it to when it’s difficult to distinguish between its tracks.