August 14, 2025 • 20 mins
Interview by Angela Croudace
After more than 15 years, grindcore titans Pig Destroyer will finally return to Australia, and frontman J.R. Hayes couldn’t be more thrilled. “We’re just really, really excited,” he said. “It’s hard to get all the stars to align, but we’re finally doing it.”
Their long-awaited comeback is bolstered by the inclusion of Singaporean grind heavyweights Wormrot as tour support. “They’ve been one of the top grindcore bands for the last 10 years,” J.R. said. “You just have to make sure they don’t blow you off the stage.”
Known for their blistering speed, raw aggression, and lyrics that dive deep into the bleakest aspects of the human psyche, Pig Destroyer isn’t softening with age. “We always just try to write the craziest thing we can,” said J.R. “We don’t care about record sales—we never have. We just want to play it as hard as we can.”
While their music is undeniably dark, the band members are anything but grim. “Live, we’re just a bunch of idiots,” J.R. laughed. “You can’t really cover that up.”
A staunch believer in the rawness of sound, J.R. remains adamantly against over-polished production. “The best music is flawed music,” he insisted. “When things are too perfect, it just becomes Katy Perry to me. It doesn’t sound like it’s made by people.” If Pig Destroyer's next album ends up being a live one, let it be known that the idea was planted into J.R's mind by one incredible interviewer for Heavy Mag (I'm talking about myself).
For first-timers catching Pig Destroyer on this Australian run, expect chaos in the best way, a full assault on all the senses. “Usually it’s the mosh pit that hits them first,” he said. “Then the volume—it’s so loud it becomes a physical experience.”
As for what keeps the fire burning after decades in the underground, J.R. summed it up simply: “We never wanted to be a popular band. We just wanted to be a crazy band. Grindcore scratches an itch that nothing else can.”
Catch Pig Destroyer with Wormrot on Aussie shores in September.
TICKETING DETAILS https://swdpresents.com
PIG DESTROYER with guests WORMROT performing at:
Sept 2nd – Perth, Amplifier Bar w/ Bile Cannon, Allocer*
Sept 4th – Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory w/ Meth Leppard
Sept 5th – Melbourne, Max Watts w/ Tongue Scum
Sept 6th – Sydney, The Factory Theatre w/ Crown Street Militia
Sept 7th – Canberra, The Baso w/ Blight Worms
Sept 9th – Brisbane, The Triffid w/ Awful Noise
Sept 10th – Townsville, The Warehouse w/ Varrim*
Sept 12th – Auckland, Galatos w/ Imperial Slave, Sawnoff*
Sept 13th – Christchurch, Loons w/ Vixen Execution, Unyielding Desolation*
Sept 14th – Wellington, San Fran w/ Glassblower, Post Natal Abortion*
*Wormrot not appearing in Perth, Townsville or NZ
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
After more than 15 years, grindcore titans Pig Destroyer will finally return to Australia, and frontman J.R. Hayes couldn’t be more thrilled. “We’re just really, really excited,” he said. “It’s hard to get all the stars to align, but we’re finally doing it.”
Their long-awaited comeback is bolstered by the inclusion of Singaporean grind heavyweights Wormrot as tour support. “They’ve been one of the top grindcore bands for the last 10 years,” J.R. said. “You just have to make sure they don’t blow you off the stage.”
Known for their blistering speed, raw aggression, and lyrics that dive deep into the bleakest aspects of the human psyche, Pig Destroyer isn’t softening with age. “We always just try to write the craziest thing we can,” said J.R. “We don’t care about record sales—we never have. We just want to play it as hard as we can.”
While their music is undeniably dark, the band members are anything but grim. “Live, we’re just a bunch of idiots,” J.R. laughed. “You can’t really cover that up.”
A staunch believer in the rawness of sound, J.R. remains adamantly against over-polished production. “The best music is flawed music,” he insisted. “When things are too perfect, it just becomes Katy Perry to me. It doesn’t sound like it’s made by people.” If Pig Destroyer's next album ends up being a live one, let it be known that the idea was planted into J.R's mind by one incredible interviewer for Heavy Mag (I'm talking about myself).
For first-timers catching Pig Destroyer on this Australian run, expect chaos in the best way, a full assault on all the senses. “Usually it’s the mosh pit that hits them first,” he said. “Then the volume—it’s so loud it becomes a physical experience.”
As for what keeps the fire burning after decades in the underground, J.R. summed it up simply: “We never wanted to be a popular band. We just wanted to be a crazy band. Grindcore scratches an itch that nothing else can.”
Catch Pig Destroyer with Wormrot on Aussie shores in September.
TICKETING DETAILS https://swdpresents.com
PIG DESTROYER with guests WORMROT performing at:
Sept 2nd – Perth, Amplifier Bar w/ Bile Cannon, Allocer*
Sept 4th – Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory w/ Meth Leppard
Sept 5th – Melbourne, Max Watts w/ Tongue Scum
Sept 6th – Sydney, The Factory Theatre w/ Crown Street Militia
Sept 7th – Canberra, The Baso w/ Blight Worms
Sept 9th – Brisbane, The Triffid w/ Awful Noise
Sept 10th – Townsville, The Warehouse w/ Varrim*
Sept 12th – Auckland, Galatos w/ Imperial Slave, Sawnoff*
Sept 13th – Christchurch, Loons w/ Vixen Execution, Unyielding Desolation*
Sept 14th – Wellington, San Fran w/ Glassblower, Post Natal Abortion*
*Wormrot not appearing in Perth, Townsville or NZ
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heavy-music-interviews--2687660/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Jr. From Pig Destroyer. I scream and yell at.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You beautiful, wonderful.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It's been over fifteen years since your last visit to Australia.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
What finally brought Pig Destroyer back?
Speaker 4 (00:13):
Uh? You know, the when you have people in a
band who were as busy as we do, it's it's
just hard to get all the stars to align, you know,
And a Australian tour is a is a massive undertaking.
There's a lot of flights and you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Know, I think my cat's trying to attack me every here.
You know, it's a lot of flights and like you know,
having things that you got to get organized.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
We're just really really excited that we could get worm
Rod on the tour and and hit.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Some some of the towns that we didn't do last time,
which will be very very cool.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, so awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
And with were how did you how did that come about?
How did you decide that they were going to support
you guys?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
I'm not sure who originally came up with the idea,
but we we've known those guys for for many years
and we've played some shows of them, uh and uh,
you know, just uh they've been one of the top
grindcore bands I think in the world for the last
ten years or so. So, uh, it's a great band
to have along. Just have to make sure they'll blow
(01:18):
you off the stage.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, they're pretty You don't want to bring a band
on tour who is too good.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And your live shows are known for their sheer intensity.
How do you mentally prepare for that level of chaos?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
If I mean it's grindcore, you just you just have
to go all in.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
You have to push all your chips in.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Yeah, you know, if you can't expect the audience to
become invested if you're not invested, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So it's a it's it's an energy thing. You know.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
The crowd can tell when you're you know, when you're
phoning it in, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Do you feel like it's a symbiotic relationship, like you
feed off the energy of the crowd as well?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Oh yeah, Well that's what makes uh that's what makes
just punk and metal music special, you know, is uh
is the audience is just as much a part of
you know, or or or in certain cases like the
Obscene Extreme festival in Czech Republic, Like sometimes the audience
is the show, you know, So I just I just
(02:21):
love that, Uh, you know, I mean I love all
kinds of music, but there's no there's no experience that's quite.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The same as a as a death metal grindcore show.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah yeah one and Peak Destroyers Sounds strips metals to
its Strip's metal to its Aurora's form. Has that approach
evolved or deepened with time?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
For you, guys, I think our approaches remained pretty much
the same. I think, Uh, we just always want to
try to write the craziest thing that we can write,
and we don't. We don't really care about how many
records we sell. We never we never have, So we
we just try to make something that we're happy with,
(03:01):
and then when we get a chance to play it live,
we try to play it as hard as we can.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
You know, something that's funny about you guys is that
you with your lyrics, they're really deep and intense oftentimes,
and they can delve into some pretty blank territory.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But seeing past.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Interviews with you guys and seeing you guys on stage,
you all look like the loveliest people ever. Where do
you find the inspiration for such visceral themes.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, well, I think there's a few different parts
to it. I think that.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
With the with the type of music, I think you
try to gravitate towards darker kind of you know, more
transgressive sort of subject matter.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Because it's just strange, you know too.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I mean, I know that there's bands out there who
do this, like the kind of tree huggy bands who
want to write about nature and whales and stuff, and
that's cool, but you know, uh, we we we like
to try to keep it like dark and kind of
death metally, you know. But but live, we're we're just
a bunch of idiots release and and we can't can't
(04:11):
we can't cover that up. So uh so when when
we play live, then you then you kind of see
us for what we really are, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, yeah, I think you've just created a new genre
as well. By the way, that would be so interesting
to see a metal band talk about hippie stuff in
then lyrics like that would be.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Well, you know, uh, there's a there's a slam death
metal band that we played with in Switzerland. Yeah, and
their name escapes me at the moment, but I think
they started out like with the typical kind of gore stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
But now they just sing about surfing.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And then and they have surfboards on stage, and they
have you know, they play in swimsuits and and you
know that's their their thing.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
That's awesome. I'm gonna have to check them out.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I feel bad.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I wish, I wish I could remember name, but I
think they had the name before the surfing thing came up,
because it doesn't really like jive, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
That's crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
And do you ever surprised asselves with just how dark
your songwriting can get.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I mean, I don't like necessarily try to make it dark.
It just is what it is, you know what I mean.
I mean, I'm glad people think it's dark, you know, uh,
just but I have to have a.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
There has to be more to something than just shock value. Yeah,
you know, Like I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Ever really write something just because I want to unnerve
somebody like I. There has to be some sort of
like emotional thing or something real attached to it that
makes it resonate. Like that's that's why people, I think
respond to it.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
It's if I if I just write about a bunch
of dark shit that I don't care about, then I
can't really expect anybody to else to care about it either,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, No, that's exactly right.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And that's why I think your music does resonate with people, because.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
As you said, it's not just about the shock factor.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You're actually saying something within those lyrics as well.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It's not just yeah, go for the sake of god shock.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
You know, music makes an emotional attachment to people. That's
why they take it so seriously.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And and when when you find a band or a
song or an album that I mean, I'm sure you
know the feeling when you throw it on and you
just know you're.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Like, these are my people. Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Like and it's it's like you've already heard it a
thousand times because it was like it was made just
for you, you know what I mean, And that that
sort of connection is not something that happened. You know,
it might only happen one in every thousand records a year,
but when it does happen, it's worth it.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
It makes it all worth it, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
And do you have any us memories from your time
here in Australia. I know it was quite a while
ago now, but do you have anything that sticks out?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Playing in Tasmania was really awesome. That was that was
a really wild time. Uh.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Playing with Blood Duster was amazing. Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
You know, we got to play with Extortion for the
first time when we played in Perth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
And Australia has always had such a great grind core scene,
so uh, that's probably the thing I'm most excited about
is just to see some of the opening bands and
you know, uh and hopefully you know, meet some of
the guys that I've been you know, following their bands
for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, awesome. And you guys have carved out legendary status
in grind court.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Do you feel pressure to live up to that each
time you're released new material?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
No, I mean I just think.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
I know that we're all going to put in the work,
so uh, you know, we're not We're not going to
put out something that we don't stand behind, so uh, yeah,
I don't really worry about it. You know, It's it's
really just a matter of making it happen in a
reasonable amount of time, you know, and having our last
(08:16):
album was out in twenty eighteen. That's not really a
reasonable amount of time. So you know, uh, we're we're
into the unreasonable amount of time zone.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Is that a hint at possibly even more material coming soon?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Or yeah, we want to have a record out by
the end of next year. We're going to try everything
we can to make that happen.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Oh, we don't want our We don't want the next
record to be the tenth anniversary of the previous records.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's you know.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I mean, I guess it's cool when Tool does it,
but I don't know if it's cool when we do
it would be.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
And in an age where metal is more polished than ever,
how important is it for Zon that rawness, that peak
destroyer thrives on.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Oh, I mean, uh, that's like preaching the gospel right there.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I mean, I just I think there's so much.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I'm that guy who I don't I don't like click tracks,
I don't like pro tools, I don't like overdubs. I
want everything to sound like a band in a room,
like and honest, you know, because I think that the
best music is flawed music, you know, and when when
when things are too perfect, it it just becomes Katy
(09:34):
Perry to me, and like, like, I don't care if
it's death metal, it's just it's it's pop music at
that point because it's it sounds like it's made by
aliens or something. It doesn't sound like it's made by
by people.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
And that's you know, And now we're getting into like
the the era of AI and like God knows the
abominations that we're all going to have to put up with.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yes, yes, good point.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
So in saying that, does it usually take you guys
when you are recording in the studio? Does it take
you guys very little playthroughs to get a song down
and write there's something that sounds right to you guys?
Speaker 4 (10:12):
I mean I the last two albums that we've done,
I did all my vocals in one day. So I
typically I do I do one take or two takes
like if it if it, if it's more than that,
then then I'm not.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
It's not right, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Like I you know, it has to be like from
the hip a little bit, you know, because I think, uh,
you have to be really careful with a studio is
a very scale kind of sterile environment.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
And uh, it's sort of like you know, hanging out
in a hospital or something like that. You know, it's
it's it's never never the place that you really want
to be, but yet you have.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
To be there and make it, make it happen.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
And and if you stay there too long, then it'll
drive you crazy, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
And and things can I think what you're saying is
things can sound a bit too polished.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Yeah, well, you know, uh, I don't know I would
ever try to aspire to polishness, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I think I think that the.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Dirtier and the the more raw that it is, the
more uh, the more real that it sounds, you know. Uh,
like the best Uh some of my favorite albums are
by bands that don't even sound like they're playing the
same songs sometimes because they're playing so fast and it's
so out of control that you can't you know, uh,
(11:38):
you can't fake that sort of stuff.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
It's just that's what makes it exciting, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Definitely.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
It's sort of sort of that push, the push and
pull of the order and the chaos. You know, yes,
when when everything when everything is too ordered, it just
doesn't it just doesn't make sense to.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Me, definitely, and I think it also doesn't translate well
sometimes to a live performance as well. If things are
too polished, it's like, can you ever capture that live.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Well?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I mean, if it was up to me, all of
our albums would be recorded live in front of in
front of an audience, because I think that's how you
would get the.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Best thing, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
You know, like the MC five's first album is a
live album, and and it's a it's a ripper, you
know what I mean. Uh, I don't know why more
people don't do it, honestly.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Yeah, yeah, maybe I've got you thinking for the next
album then live.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, it's good.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Scott handles the production stuff, he doesn't, you know, like
he'll let me, he'll let me run my mouth, but
at the end of the day, he's the one that's
he's the one that's recording the band, you know.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
And you're sharing the stage with Rod. What's your take
on this sound and ferocity?
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I mean, they're just they're just a great band, just
very exciting to watch live and uh they and they
they they get.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
The crowd worked up like and really excited.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
The first time that I saw them play at Maryland Deathfest.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
You know, they they had been trying to come over
for a couple of years and then they finally made
it and the crowd was just so excited to see them,
and like they just got such great energy, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So uh yeah, it's it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, hell yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And other any other newer grind or extreme bands you
feel a pushing boundaries like Peak Destroyer one Stude.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Oh yeah, there's a ton of them out there, kind
of kind of mind blowing. Actually, Uh, I'm doing a
I'm doing like a small label where I've been putting
out CDs and stuff. One of the CDs we just
did is by a band called Mellow harsher Man. They
actually have a split with Internal Rot, who are from Melbourne. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah,
(13:51):
and they're they're a ripping grindcore band and uh and
if you haven't heard sex Prisoner, uh, sex Prisoner is
is the Uh They're they're the new alpha dog to me,
like they're I haven't seen a band of a grandcore
band heavier.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Than them yet, so interesting. Somebody else is going to
have to step up to the plate.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, well that's awesome. They sound good.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And if someone was completely unfamiliar with Picked Destroyer and
they showed up to one of your shows, what do
you think would hit them first?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Well, usually what happens is, uh, if you're a newbie,
you see like the marshpit, and if you've never encountered
a mashpit before, it's it's very it's very jarring, you know,
for for people who have just gone to like the
conventional kind of concert, you know what I mean. Uh,
so that I feel like that's the first thing that
(14:46):
jumps out of you.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
But then uh, it's it's also a volume thing.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Like it you know, you want to have it so
loud that it becomes a physical act as opposed to
just like tickling your ear drums a little bit like
you want to you want to feel it, like like
kick you in the chest a little bit, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, definitely get like a full body experience.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I think like.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
When I when I saw ice Cube, I was so
close to the stage and that the subwhipers were so
crazy that my my eyeballs were shaking seven minutes after
show was over, Like you know, I couldn't I couldn't
even see straight. Yes, yes, but that's but that's what
you want, you know what I mean when you see
that kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
That's what makes it sometimes as well, is that experience.
I went to a festival last year and I saw
I don't know if you know them, but Electric coll
Boy and I was right up the front and the
pyro was just hitting me in the face.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But I was enjoying. It was the best time ever.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
And after all these years, what still drives you to
create music that's this intense and unrelenting.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
That's just all we've ever aspired to do.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
You know. We never wanted to be a popular band.
We just wanted to be a crazy band. And we
all like all kinds of different music, but like, uh,
I think there's just a certain itch that grindcore scratches
that nothing else can scratch, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Would there be any surprises to the type of stuff
or genre as you listen to that fans may not
know about.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That would be a surprise.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Oh, I don't know. I mean, I'm not really a
big dance music guy.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
But but other than that, I mean I love reggae
and country and you know, classical music, jazz. Yeah, you know,
I kind of dabbled.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I kind of dabble in a little bit of everything,
you know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
And I can imagine from the name of your band,
how you guys perform, and your lyrics and everything. You
must have received something a little bit stranger odd from
a fan. Is there something that sticks out that you've
been given by a fan?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:05):
You know, yeah, people bring me like some cool stuff,
like little pieces of jewelry they make, or or pieces
of art.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
You know, one thing that was really weird one time
was was this guy wanted me to write some of
my lyrics on his arm and then he was gonna
go get them tattooed, like the next day. And I
was like, really fucked up. And I tried to plead
with the guy. I was like, don't make me right
(17:37):
on your arm, and and he he wouldn't take note
for an answer. And then you know, the next day
he showed you, you know, he sent us a picture
of my horrible handwriting like all over his forearm, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
So uh, you know, yeah, we got some wacky fans,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, yeah, but so far, like no animal romance or
anything like that.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
No, I mean, if we were a little more like
witchcrafty maybe people would do that, but you know, uh,
I don't know. I think, uh, you know, people people
have written me letters or or shown me like uh
you know, poems that they've written, or you know, just
to just that we can inspire anything and anybody is
(18:25):
is very humbling for us.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yeah, that's lovely.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
How does the original vision of Pig Destroyer compare to
what the band has become today?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And has anything surprised you along the way?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I mean, I mean it's just strange that, like the
the lineup.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Of people and just that you know, the people that
have come and gone or that.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
We've lost, you know, and just trying to like, uh
stay true to the to the vision that that me
and Scott had when we when we started the band,
and just you know, uh, I think because we do
it for you know, we just want to make music
for ourselves and and and the fans, and uh we
(19:08):
just try to keep it simple in that respect.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
If you make it more complicated than that, then then
I don't I think you're doing yourself a disservice, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, definitely was it hot as well after the passing
to decide to keep going with Peat Destroyer or was
that something that was always just meant to happen.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well, no, because we we had already continued because Blake,
you know, Blake left the band.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
And uh, you know we did.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
We didn't want him to leave the band, but uh
but it was just, you know, something that happened, and.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know, and then a year later, you know, he
passes away, and uh.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
But but it's kind of a I considered it a
lifetime appointment. You know, he was always going to be
part of the band, in my in.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
My heart, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So we're all just we're we're all close like brothers,
and you know we fight sometimes, but.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know, I take a bullet for any of them.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Yeah, so lovely, Well, Jaya, We're so excited to see
you guys here so soon. Thank you so much for
your time today.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Of course, it's my pleasure.
Hi, I'm Jr. From Pig Destroyer. I scream and yell at.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You beautiful, wonderful.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
It's been over fifteen years since your last visit to Australia.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
What finally brought Pig Destroyer back?
Speaker 4 (00:13):
Uh? You know, the when you have people in a
band who were as busy as we do, it's it's
just hard to get all the stars to align, you know,
And a Australian tour is a is a massive undertaking.
There's a lot of flights and you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Know, I think my cat's trying to attack me every here.
You know, it's a lot of flights and like you know,
having things that you got to get organized.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
We're just really really excited that we could get worm
Rod on the tour and and hit.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Some some of the towns that we didn't do last time,
which will be very very cool.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, so awesome.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
And with were how did you how did that come about?
How did you decide that they were going to support
you guys?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
I'm not sure who originally came up with the idea,
but we we've known those guys for for many years
and we've played some shows of them, uh and uh,
you know, just uh they've been one of the top
grindcore bands I think in the world for the last
ten years or so. So, uh, it's a great band
to have along. Just have to make sure they'll blow
(01:18):
you off the stage.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, they're pretty You don't want to bring a band
on tour who is too good.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And your live shows are known for their sheer intensity.
How do you mentally prepare for that level of chaos?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
If I mean it's grindcore, you just you just have
to go all in.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
You have to push all your chips in.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Yeah, you know, if you can't expect the audience to
become invested if you're not invested, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So it's a it's it's an energy thing. You know.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
The crowd can tell when you're you know, when you're
phoning it in, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Do you feel like it's a symbiotic relationship, like you
feed off the energy of the crowd as well?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Oh yeah, Well that's what makes uh that's what makes
just punk and metal music special, you know, is uh
is the audience is just as much a part of
you know, or or or in certain cases like the
Obscene Extreme festival in Czech Republic, Like sometimes the audience
is the show, you know, So I just I just
(02:21):
love that, Uh, you know, I mean I love all
kinds of music, but there's no there's no experience that's quite.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The same as a as a death metal grindcore show.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah yeah one and Peak Destroyers Sounds strips metals to
its Strip's metal to its Aurora's form. Has that approach
evolved or deepened with time?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
For you, guys, I think our approaches remained pretty much
the same. I think, Uh, we just always want to
try to write the craziest thing that we can write,
and we don't. We don't really care about how many
records we sell. We never we never have, So we
we just try to make something that we're happy with,
(03:01):
and then when we get a chance to play it live,
we try to play it as hard as we can.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
You know, something that's funny about you guys is that
you with your lyrics, they're really deep and intense oftentimes,
and they can delve into some pretty blank territory.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But seeing past.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Interviews with you guys and seeing you guys on stage,
you all look like the loveliest people ever. Where do
you find the inspiration for such visceral themes.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, well, I think there's a few different parts
to it. I think that.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
With the with the type of music, I think you
try to gravitate towards darker kind of you know, more
transgressive sort of subject matter.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Because it's just strange, you know too.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I mean, I know that there's bands out there who
do this, like the kind of tree huggy bands who
want to write about nature and whales and stuff, and
that's cool, but you know, uh, we we we like
to try to keep it like dark and kind of
death metally, you know. But but live, we're we're just
a bunch of idiots release and and we can't can't
(04:11):
we can't cover that up. So uh so when when
we play live, then you then you kind of see
us for what we really are, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, yeah, I think you've just created a new genre
as well. By the way, that would be so interesting
to see a metal band talk about hippie stuff in
then lyrics like that would be.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Well, you know, uh, there's a there's a slam death
metal band that we played with in Switzerland. Yeah, and
their name escapes me at the moment, but I think
they started out like with the typical kind of gore stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
But now they just sing about surfing.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And then and they have surfboards on stage, and they
have you know, they play in swimsuits and and you
know that's their their thing.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
That's awesome. I'm gonna have to check them out.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I feel bad.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I wish, I wish I could remember name, but I
think they had the name before the surfing thing came up,
because it doesn't really like jive, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
That's crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
And do you ever surprised asselves with just how dark
your songwriting can get.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I mean, I don't like necessarily try to make it dark.
It just is what it is, you know what I mean.
I mean, I'm glad people think it's dark, you know, uh,
just but I have to have a.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
There has to be more to something than just shock value. Yeah,
you know, Like I don't.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Ever really write something just because I want to unnerve
somebody like I. There has to be some sort of
like emotional thing or something real attached to it that
makes it resonate. Like that's that's why people, I think
respond to it.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
It's if I if I just write about a bunch
of dark shit that I don't care about, then I
can't really expect anybody to else to care about it either,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, No, that's exactly right.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And that's why I think your music does resonate with people, because.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
As you said, it's not just about the shock factor.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You're actually saying something within those lyrics as well.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
It's not just yeah, go for the sake of god shock.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
You know, music makes an emotional attachment to people. That's
why they take it so seriously.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And and when when you find a band or a
song or an album that I mean, I'm sure you
know the feeling when you throw it on and you
just know you're.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Like, these are my people. Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Like and it's it's like you've already heard it a
thousand times because it was like it was made just
for you, you know what I mean, And that that
sort of connection is not something that happened. You know,
it might only happen one in every thousand records a year,
but when it does happen, it's worth it.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
It makes it all worth it, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
And do you have any us memories from your time
here in Australia. I know it was quite a while
ago now, but do you have anything that sticks out?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Playing in Tasmania was really awesome. That was that was
a really wild time. Uh.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Playing with Blood Duster was amazing. Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
You know, we got to play with Extortion for the
first time when we played in Perth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
And Australia has always had such a great grind core scene,
so uh, that's probably the thing I'm most excited about
is just to see some of the opening bands and
you know, uh and hopefully you know, meet some of
the guys that I've been you know, following their bands
for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, awesome. And you guys have carved out legendary status
in grind court.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Do you feel pressure to live up to that each
time you're released new material?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
No, I mean I just think.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
I know that we're all going to put in the work,
so uh, you know, we're not We're not going to
put out something that we don't stand behind, so uh, yeah,
I don't really worry about it. You know, It's it's
really just a matter of making it happen in a
reasonable amount of time, you know, and having our last
(08:16):
album was out in twenty eighteen. That's not really a
reasonable amount of time. So you know, uh, we're we're
into the unreasonable amount of time zone.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Is that a hint at possibly even more material coming soon?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Or yeah, we want to have a record out by
the end of next year. We're going to try everything
we can to make that happen.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Oh, we don't want our We don't want the next
record to be the tenth anniversary of the previous records.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's you know.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I mean, I guess it's cool when Tool does it,
but I don't know if it's cool when we do
it would be.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
And in an age where metal is more polished than ever,
how important is it for Zon that rawness, that peak
destroyer thrives on.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Oh, I mean, uh, that's like preaching the gospel right there.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I mean, I just I think there's so much.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I'm that guy who I don't I don't like click tracks,
I don't like pro tools, I don't like overdubs. I
want everything to sound like a band in a room,
like and honest, you know, because I think that the
best music is flawed music, you know, and when when
when things are too perfect, it it just becomes Katy
(09:34):
Perry to me, and like, like, I don't care if
it's death metal, it's just it's it's pop music at
that point because it's it sounds like it's made by
aliens or something. It doesn't sound like it's made by
by people.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
And that's you know, And now we're getting into like
the the era of AI and like God knows the
abominations that we're all going to have to put up with.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yes, yes, good point.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
So in saying that, does it usually take you guys
when you are recording in the studio? Does it take
you guys very little playthroughs to get a song down
and write there's something that sounds right to you guys?
Speaker 4 (10:12):
I mean I the last two albums that we've done,
I did all my vocals in one day. So I
typically I do I do one take or two takes
like if it if it, if it's more than that,
then then I'm not.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
It's not right, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Like I you know, it has to be like from
the hip a little bit, you know, because I think, uh,
you have to be really careful with a studio is
a very scale kind of sterile environment.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
And uh, it's sort of like you know, hanging out
in a hospital or something like that. You know, it's
it's it's never never the place that you really want
to be, but yet you have.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
To be there and make it, make it happen.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
And and if you stay there too long, then it'll
drive you crazy, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
And and things can I think what you're saying is
things can sound a bit too polished.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Yeah, well, you know, uh, I don't know I would
ever try to aspire to polishness, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I think I think that the.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Dirtier and the the more raw that it is, the
more uh, the more real that it sounds, you know. Uh,
like the best Uh some of my favorite albums are
by bands that don't even sound like they're playing the
same songs sometimes because they're playing so fast and it's
so out of control that you can't you know, uh,
(11:38):
you can't fake that sort of stuff.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
It's just that's what makes it exciting, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Definitely.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
It's sort of sort of that push, the push and
pull of the order and the chaos. You know, yes,
when when everything when everything is too ordered, it just
doesn't it just doesn't make sense to.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Me, definitely, and I think it also doesn't translate well
sometimes to a live performance as well. If things are
too polished, it's like, can you ever capture that live.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Well?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I mean, if it was up to me, all of
our albums would be recorded live in front of in
front of an audience, because I think that's how you
would get the.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Best thing, you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
You know, like the MC five's first album is a
live album, and and it's a it's a ripper, you
know what I mean. Uh, I don't know why more
people don't do it, honestly.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Yeah, yeah, maybe I've got you thinking for the next
album then live.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, it's good.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Scott handles the production stuff, he doesn't, you know, like
he'll let me, he'll let me run my mouth, but
at the end of the day, he's the one that's
he's the one that's recording the band, you know.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
And you're sharing the stage with Rod. What's your take
on this sound and ferocity?
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I mean, they're just they're just a great band, just
very exciting to watch live and uh they and they
they they get.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
The crowd worked up like and really excited.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
The first time that I saw them play at Maryland Deathfest.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
You know, they they had been trying to come over
for a couple of years and then they finally made
it and the crowd was just so excited to see them,
and like they just got such great energy, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So uh yeah, it's it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, hell yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And other any other newer grind or extreme bands you
feel a pushing boundaries like Peak Destroyer one Stude.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Oh yeah, there's a ton of them out there, kind
of kind of mind blowing. Actually, Uh, I'm doing a
I'm doing like a small label where I've been putting
out CDs and stuff. One of the CDs we just
did is by a band called Mellow harsher Man. They
actually have a split with Internal Rot, who are from Melbourne. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah,
(13:51):
and they're they're a ripping grindcore band and uh and
if you haven't heard sex Prisoner, uh, sex Prisoner is
is the Uh They're they're the new alpha dog to me,
like they're I haven't seen a band of a grandcore
band heavier.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Than them yet, so interesting. Somebody else is going to
have to step up to the plate.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, well that's awesome. They sound good.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And if someone was completely unfamiliar with Picked Destroyer and
they showed up to one of your shows, what do
you think would hit them first?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Well, usually what happens is, uh, if you're a newbie,
you see like the marshpit, and if you've never encountered
a mashpit before, it's it's very it's very jarring, you know,
for for people who have just gone to like the
conventional kind of concert, you know what I mean. Uh,
so that I feel like that's the first thing that
(14:46):
jumps out of you.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
But then uh, it's it's also a volume thing.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Like it you know, you want to have it so
loud that it becomes a physical act as opposed to
just like tickling your ear drums a little bit like
you want to you want to feel it, like like
kick you in the chest a little bit, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, definitely get like a full body experience.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I think like.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
When I when I saw ice Cube, I was so
close to the stage and that the subwhipers were so
crazy that my my eyeballs were shaking seven minutes after
show was over, Like you know, I couldn't I couldn't
even see straight. Yes, yes, but that's but that's what
you want, you know what I mean when you see
that kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
That's what makes it sometimes as well, is that experience.
I went to a festival last year and I saw
I don't know if you know them, but Electric coll
Boy and I was right up the front and the
pyro was just hitting me in the face.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But I was enjoying. It was the best time ever.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
And after all these years, what still drives you to
create music that's this intense and unrelenting.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
That's just all we've ever aspired to do.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
You know. We never wanted to be a popular band.
We just wanted to be a crazy band. And we
all like all kinds of different music, but like, uh,
I think there's just a certain itch that grindcore scratches
that nothing else can scratch, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Would there be any surprises to the type of stuff
or genre as you listen to that fans may not
know about.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That would be a surprise.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Oh, I don't know. I mean, I'm not really a
big dance music guy.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
But but other than that, I mean I love reggae
and country and you know, classical music, jazz. Yeah, you know,
I kind of dabbled.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I kind of dabble in a little bit of everything,
you know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
And I can imagine from the name of your band,
how you guys perform, and your lyrics and everything. You
must have received something a little bit stranger odd from
a fan. Is there something that sticks out that you've
been given by a fan?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:05):
You know, yeah, people bring me like some cool stuff,
like little pieces of jewelry they make, or or pieces
of art.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I think.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
You know, one thing that was really weird one time
was was this guy wanted me to write some of
my lyrics on his arm and then he was gonna
go get them tattooed, like the next day. And I
was like, really fucked up. And I tried to plead
with the guy. I was like, don't make me right
(17:37):
on your arm, and and he he wouldn't take note
for an answer. And then you know, the next day
he showed you, you know, he sent us a picture
of my horrible handwriting like all over his forearm, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
So uh, you know, yeah, we got some wacky fans,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, yeah, but so far, like no animal romance or
anything like that.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
No, I mean, if we were a little more like
witchcrafty maybe people would do that, but you know, uh,
I don't know. I think, uh, you know, people people
have written me letters or or shown me like uh
you know, poems that they've written, or you know, just
to just that we can inspire anything and anybody is
(18:25):
is very humbling for us.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yeah, that's lovely.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
How does the original vision of Pig Destroyer compare to
what the band has become today?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And has anything surprised you along the way?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I mean, I mean it's just strange that, like the
the lineup.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Of people and just that you know, the people that
have come and gone or that.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
We've lost, you know, and just trying to like, uh
stay true to the to the vision that that me
and Scott had when we when we started the band,
and just you know, uh, I think because we do
it for you know, we just want to make music
for ourselves and and and the fans, and uh we
(19:08):
just try to keep it simple in that respect.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
If you make it more complicated than that, then then
I don't I think you're doing yourself a disservice, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, definitely was it hot as well after the passing
to decide to keep going with Peat Destroyer or was
that something that was always just meant to happen.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well, no, because we we had already continued because Blake,
you know, Blake left the band.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
And uh, you know we did.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
We didn't want him to leave the band, but uh
but it was just, you know, something that happened, and.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know, and then a year later, you know, he
passes away, and uh.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
But but it's kind of a I considered it a
lifetime appointment. You know, he was always going to be
part of the band, in my in.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
My heart, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So we're all just we're we're all close like brothers,
and you know we fight sometimes, but.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know, I take a bullet for any of them.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Yeah, so lovely, Well, Jaya, We're so excited to see
you guys here so soon. Thank you so much for
your time today.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Of course, it's my pleasure.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!