All Pigs Must Die: The Uncompromising Force of Metallic Hardcore

All Pigs Must Die is an American metallic hardcore supergroup known for its blistering intensity and unrelenting sonic assault. The band emerged from the fertile Boston and New England hardcore scene, carving a distinct path with a series of critically acclaimed albums released through the influential label Southern Lord Records.

Early career

All Pigs Must Die formed in 2009, uniting members from established acts in the extreme music underground. The lineup featured vocalist Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy), guitarist Ben Koller (Converge), guitarist Adam Wentworth (Bloodhorse), and bassist Matt Woods. The band's self-titled debut EP was released in 2010, immediately showcasing a raw fusion of d-beat hardcore punk and caustic metal.

Their potent sound quickly caught the attention of Southern Lord, the label founded by Greg Anderson of Sunn O))). This partnership began with the 2011 release of their first full-length album, God Is War. The album established their signature style: a relentless, misanthropic torrent of hardcore velocity fused with the weight of sludge and doom metal.

Breakthrough

The band's breakthrough to wider recognition within the extreme music sphere arrived with their second album, 2013's Nothing Violates This Nature. Released again via Southern Lord, the record was hailed for its perfected aggression and technical precision, solidifying their reputation as leaders of the modern metallic hardcore wave. While not a charting commercial entity, the album achieved significant critical and underground success, often appearing on year-end lists for metal and hardcore publications.

Key tracks

God Is War — The title track from their debut LP is a manifesto of sheer audio violence that defined the band's foundational sound.

Sacrifice — This track exemplifies their ability to blend chaotic hardcore fury with memorable, pummeling riff structures.

Bloodlines — A standout from Nothing Violates This Nature, it showcases their evolution into a tighter, more dynamically punishing unit.

Slave Morality — This later track from 2017's Hostage Animal demonstrates their matured songwriting, incorporating bleak atmospherics alongside relentless aggression.

The band's third and most recent album, 2017's Hostage Animal, marked their peak in terms of critical reception. Praised for its complexity and unflinching power, it is considered their most cohesive and devastating work. The group has maintained a sporadic activity schedule due to members' commitments to other prominent bands, but their recorded output remains highly influential.

Fans of All Pigs Must Die's abrasive style often seek out similar artists from the American extreme music landscape. The metallic hardcore fury of Converge is a direct lineage, sharing members and a similar intensity. The bleak, metallic punishment of Full of Hell explores comparable sonic territories of noise and hardcore. For the crust-infused d-beat attack, listeners turn to Trap Them, another band with strong ties to the same scene. The misanthropic sludge and hardcore blend of His Hero Is Gone serves as a clear foundational influence for All Pigs Must Die's approach.

The music of All Pigs Must Die maintains a strong presence on dedicated radio formats. Their tracks are regularly featured on specialist metal and hardcore radio stations, college radio metal shows, and online radio streams that focus on extreme and independent music, ensuring their visceral sound reaches committed audiences worldwide.

Listeners can experience the ferocious music of All Pigs Must Die on radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to discover their discography and similar artists through the curated rock and metal radio stations available on onairium.com.