Pigs of the Roman Empire

[Dr. Gonzo]

I second that Word.

[Joe Deutrom]

Hey Brian, what's your opinion of Pigs?

I think it's a great album, but I knew what to expect.  Sorry to hear that some are disappointed.  I've been a lustmord fan for a while, so I'm biased.  I'm one of those guys that listens to merzbow, nurse with wound, masonna, etc.  In my opinion lustmord has a great sense of establishing mood in music.  Some people may not agree, and some may not like this album, and say colossus for example.  Those people may just need to face the fact that the melvins just won't be able to be their favorite band and they're going to need to look into the albums melvins put out before the purchase is made.  Rest assured if you don't like the output of one band, there's always another.  If someone happens to be looking for straight-ahead rock i've got news for that someone, there's a plethora of it out there, many many groups are rehashing the same old shit or remaining stagnant or a combination of the two.  some may argue: "i'd rather the melvins re-hash stoner witch than to have put out pigs of the roman empire", only thing any of us can say to that is, bummer for you.

We are in agreement Brian.  

[benton netty]

Hey Brian, what's your opinion of Pigs?

I think it's a great album, but I knew what to expect.  Sorry to hear that some are disappointed.  I've been a lustmord fan for a while, so I'm biased.  I'm one of those guys that listens to merzbow, nurse with wound, masonna, etc.  In my opinion lustmord has a great sense of establishing mood in music.  Some people may not agree, and some may not like this album, and say colossus for example.  Those people may just need to face the fact that the melvins just won't be able to be their favorite band and they're going to need to look into the albums melvins put out before the purchase is made.  Rest assured if you don't like the output of one band, there's always another.  If someone happens to be looking for straight-ahead rock i've got news for that someone, there's a plethora of it out there, many many groups are rehashing the same old shit or remaining stagnant or a combination of the two.  some may argue: "i'd rather the melvins re-hash stoner witch than to have put out pigs of the roman empire", only thing any of us can say to that is, bummer for you.

speaking as a person who sees little to no appeal in much of what's referred to as "noise music" (and i use the term "music" loosely with much of this stuff), i have to ask what others, like you, see in it. i listen to nurse with wound, and i hear what sounds like washing machines running (although i have heard nurse with wound stuff that is musical and rhythmic -- it seems to depend on the album, and i admit i haven't heard a ton of his stuff). i listen to merzbow, and i hear static. i listen to lustmord, and i just hear a guy hitting a low note on a synth and just letting it hang for the length of an album, essentially. with a couple of clanks thrown in.

now, people try to argue that there's all this thought put into a lot of this stuff, but i sincerely think that this is just the listener's idea, and the recordings do not actually have all of this meaning and thought in them that some feel they do. i honestly think that a lot of "noise" is just made for people to take drugs to. which is fine. but, perhaps, since i don't do them myself, i don't get it for that reason. i could be wrong. but i just can't understand what real purpose an album like lustmord's "place where the black stars hang" serves. where's the evidence of inspiration, of hard work, of creativity, even?

i dunno, i'm starting to wonder if i just think that lustmord, specifically, is someone i dislike. i mean, listening to his stuff, it all just sounds like wind noises and bangs and crashes treated with tons of reverb. i don't know why anyone would sit around and listen to it, and i sure don't get how someone can call it anything other than it is, which is easily-created, unmusical background sound.

in addition, i actually LIKE "colossus of destiny," because i think i get it. it's a live album, the band's opening for themselves, and they pulled a noise set out of their asses to fill time. and, for what it is, it's cool. is it something i ever listen to? no. i think that virtually all of their albums are better than that one. but "pigs of the roman empire" just rubs me the wrong way, and i think it's because lustmord's contributions are completely uninteresting in the way that they don't add another angle to the melvins' music, but rather, his stuff sort of coexists with theirs on the album. it's less of a collaboration at times than some sort of split release. and the times that they are doing work together (i.e., the melvins playing a song, and lustmord doing stuff at the same time), it's just a jumbled mess. "pink bat" and "safety third" are decent songs that i think are trampled to death by lustmord's crap.

aw, hell. i really get into this too much, but i like talking about music. shit, even though i really dislike this album, i still went and bought it the day it came out because i love the melvins so much. so, gimme a break, eh?

and it's not that i, personally, want "stoner witch" over and over (and i've stated how much i loved "HAT" numerous times), but the thing that this album is missing is dale, buzz, and kevin playing their songs. a track like "toadi acceleratio" might've fit on "stag," but there, you've got tons and tons of the band playing. here, when a track like that is one of nine, and three or four others don't even have, say, a drum hit from dale crover on them, i start to wonder what the hell is going on. a boring, pointless instrumental that goes nowhere? that's not like the melvins. so i blame it on lustmord.

people keep saying that this album is really some step forward, or some metamorphosis, or that the melvins are always doing the unexpected, and whatever, but i've been buying their albums for ten years, and this is the first time i've ever felt like they've made an album that is actually a misstep. every time they've put out an album, i've been blown away. but that's because, no matter what, they're still making music, those three guys. this time, they've been compromised by a collaborator who is not worthy. and that's a first, i think.

i know i can't convince people to change their minds, and i would never try to, anyway, but i'm also aware that some people would defend them if they put out an album of fart noises, and they'd call it a great step forward for the band. it's hard knowing who is who.

[klump]

"NOT ADDING MORE FUEL"

[Galvano]

If you want to put out a fire, you don't add more fuel.

[Reverend Ebeneezer]

i honestly think that a lot of "noise" is just made for people to take drugs to.

Isn't that rather condescending? I've not touched any drugs whatsoever in the time I've been listening to 'Pigs...' and think it's a cool album. I also think that music such as Earth or Sunn, which many consider noise do have enjoyable relaxing properties and definite structure. Fair enough, I don't much care for Merzbow or others of that ilk of extreme noise, but not everyone digs just guitar-bass-drums playing in a standard rhythm. To claim noise is just druggies music is like implying all dance music is just for pill-popping E-freaks...

[Metalhead Cow]

"NOT ADDING MORE FUEL"

I see you edited your post. Smart move.

[klump]

yeah, im one smart mother fucker

i just need help from the swedish so i dont fall in the gutter and break my balls...

[anaconda]

i'm with the rev here, i'm listening to prick as we type and i love it!
its a noise album and its great with no drugs at all. eventhough i'm
a 5 joint a day type guy.

klump, drop the violin chachi, no one gets any easy sympathy here  

[Metalhead Cow]

Anaconda-Is that Kurva in your signature?

[benton netty]

i honestly think that a lot of "noise" is just made for people to take drugs to.

To claim noise is just druggies music is like implying all dance music is just for pill-popping E-freaks...

it's not?

[LouiLoomis]

"NOT ADDING MORE FUEL"

I see you edited your post. Smart move.

Klump shouldn't of changed his post. It entertained me...  

[Metalhead Cow]

"NOT ADDING MORE FUEL"

I see you edited your post. Smart move.

Klump shouldn't of changed his post. It entertained me...  

Well it's a good thing Tony didn't see it (I'm assuming).

[LouiLoomis]

"NOT ADDING MORE FUEL"

I see you edited your post. Smart move.

Klump shouldn't of changed his post. It entertained me...  

Well it's a good thing Tony didn't see it (I'm assuming).

Tony's reply would of been amusing aswell though.  

[CNCMACHINE]

Wow I realy cant believe there are that many of you that dont like this album. I am a very big fan of the melvins. I consider them the best music group there is and ever will be. I have the luxary of listening to music for 10 hours daily on my headphones at work and I havent listened to anything but pigs for 3 days at work. I feel like I already got my 12 bucks worth of entertainment.