Since announcing his Pig Pen hardcore project earlier in the year, celebrity chef, author and actor Matty Matheson and the rest of his Toronto, Ontario, outfit have been serving up a series of singles off their forthcoming debut full-length, Mental Madness. That continues today (June 17th), with the band now unleashing their latest track, “Venom Moon Rising.”
Pig Pen’s third album preview is a touch slower than the previously delivered “Rabid Beach” and “Mental Mentality.” This time, they lean into a menacingly creepy-crawling, yet still NYHC-informed groove. A crossover-style shred solo erupts from the speakers when they slow down even further in the bridge.
Throughout, Matheson hollers hard of an apocalyptic, moon-glowing scenario ( “The sun will never rise again”) while guitarist and Alexisonfire member Wade MacNeil delivers grizzle-growled vocal melodies around the titular poisonous satellite.
As previously reported, Pig Pen unites Matheson and MacNeil with Daniel Romano (guitar), Ian Romano (drums), and Tommy Major (bass). The band’s Mental Madness was quickly written and recorded in a matter of days. Ian Romano engineered their sessions, which were later mixed by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Tomb Mold).
Mental Madness is out June 27th via Flatspot Records.
Pig Pen 2025 tour dates:
7/3 Welland, ON – Welland Legion Branch 4
7/5 Brooklyn, NY – TV EYE ^
10/3 Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest
^ with Jivebomb