Head Cage
{{Infobox album
| name = Head Cage
| type = Studio
| artist = Pig Destroyer
| cover = The cover for Pig Destroyer’s sixth studio album, Head Cage.jpeg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2018|09|07}}
| recorded = December 2017 – February 2018
| venue =
| studio = Visceral Sound Studios (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)
| genre = Metalcore,{{cite web | url=https://www.treblezine.com/pig-destroyer-head-cage-review/ | title=Pig Destroyer : Head Cage | date=11 September 2018 }} grindcore{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/pig-destroyer-army-of-cops-video-released-head-cage-album-due-in-september/|title=PIG DESTROYER: 'Army Of Cops' Video Released; 'Head Cage' Album Due In September|date=10 July 2018|publisher=}}
| length = {{duration|m=30|s=55}}
| label = Relapse
| producer = Scott Hull
| prev_title = Mass & Volume
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = the octagonal stairway
| next_year =2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Head Cage
| type = Studio
| single1 = Army of Cops
| single1date = {{Start date|2018|07|10}}{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/pig-destroyer-head-cage-album-video-army-of-cops/|title=Pig Destroyer Announce 'Head Cage' Album + Unleash New Song|website=Loudwire|date=10 July 2018 }}
}}
}}
{{Album reviews
| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/head-cage/pig-destroyer|title=Reviews for Head Cage by Pig Destroyer|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/head-cage-mw0003196988|first=Fred|last=Thomas|title=Head Cage - Pig Destroyer|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev2 = Consequence of Sound
| rev2score = 7.5/10{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/album-review-pig-destroyer-head-cage/|first=Langdon|last=Hickman|title=Pig Destroyer - Head Cage|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=September 11, 2018|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev3 = Exclaim!
| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/pig_destroyer-head_cage|first=Denise|last=Falzon|title=Pig Destroyer Head Cage|publisher=Exclaim!|date=September 7, 2018|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev4 = MetalSucks
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/09/04/album-review-pig-destroyers-head-cage-will-free-your-mind/|first=Axl|last=Rosenburg|title=Album Review: Pig Destroyer's Head Cage Will Free Your Mind|publisher=MetalSucks|date=September 7, 2018|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev5score = 8.1/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pig-destroyer-head-cage/|first=Grayson|last=Currin|title=Pig Destroyer: Head Cage Album Review|publisher=Pitchfork|date=September 10, 2018|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}
| rev6 = Sputnikmusic
| rev7 = Metal Storm
| rev7score = 8.0/10{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=14757|title=Review: Pig Destroyer - Head Cage|publisher=Metal Storm|date=October 8, 2018|accessdate=October 9, 2018}}
}}
Head Cage is the sixth studio album by American grindcore band Pig Destroyer. The album was released on September 7, 2018 through Relapse Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/05/14/pig-destroyer-confirm-head-cage-album-for-september-release/|title=Pig Destroyer Confirm "Head Cage" Album for September Release - Decibel Magazine|date=14 May 2018|publisher=}} The album features vocal cameos from Richard Johnson and Kat Katz from Agoraphobic Nosebleed, along with Dylan Walker from Full of Hell.
The band commented in an official description of Head Cage:
{{quote|"Across twelve tracks, Pig Destroyer weave together harrowing tales of philosophical dualities, touching on mortality and depression, fear and violence, and the darkest complexities of the human condition, all told through the distorted lens of delightfully transgressive vocalist/lyricist JR Hayes."|sign=|source=}}
Background
It is the band's only album with bassist John Jarvis in their line-up, and the last to feature Blake Harrison, who would leave in 2022 and die in 2024. MetalSucks called the album an "immediate frontrunner for the best metal album of 2018."{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/05/14/pig-destroyer-announce-new-album-head-cage/|title=Pig Destroyer Announce New Album, Head Cage - MetalSucks|date=14 May 2018|publisher=}} The band released a teaser for the album on June 27, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/06/27/pig-destroyer-releases-album-teaser-for-head-cage/|title=Pig Destroyer Releases Album Teaser for Head Cage - MetalSucks|date=27 June 2018|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/pig-destroyer-tease-new-album-head-cage|title=PIG DESTROYER Tease New Album, Head Cage|date=27 June 2018|publisher=}}
Reception
=Accolades=
| class="sortable wikitable" |
| Publication
! Accolade ! Rank ! class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| Decibel
| Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2018 | {{center|10}} | {{center|{{cite web|last1=Mudrian|first1=Albert|title=SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2018|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/11/15/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2018/|website=Decibel|date=15 November 2018 |accessdate=2018-11-18}}}} |
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_lyrics = J. R. Hayes
| all_music = Scott Hull
| title1 = Tunnel Under the Tracks
| length1 = 1:21
| title2 = Dark Train
| length2 = 1:11
| title3 = Army of Cops
| length3 = 3:18
| title4 = Circle River
| length4 = 2:45
| title5 = The Torture Fields
| length5 = 2:55
| title6 = Terminal Itch
| length6 = 1:13
| title7 = Concrete Beast
| length7 = 3:21
| title8 = The Adventures of Jason and JR
| length8 = 2:12
| title9 = Mt. Skull
| length9 = 1:37
| title10 = Trap Door Man
| length10 = 1:15
| title11 = The Last Song
| length11 = 2:40
| title12 = House of Snakes
| length12 = 7:07
| total_length = 30:55
}}
Personnel
Pig Destroyer
- J. R. Hayes – lead vocals
- Scott Hull - guitars
- John Jarvis – bass, gang vocals
- Blake Harrison - noise, samples, gang vocals
- Adam Jarvis – drums, gang vocals
Additional musicians
- Richard Johnson − guest vocals (track 3), gang vocals
- Kat Katz − guest vocals (tracks 6, 7)
- Jason Hodges − guest vocals (track 8)
- Dylan Walker − noise (track 11)
- Aaron "Baron" Kirkpatrick − gang vocals
Production
- Scott Hull − recording
- Will Putney − mixing, mastering
- Mark McCoy − artwork, layout
- Mark Valentino − photography
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|146|artist=Pig Destroyer|album=Head Cage|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 15, 2018}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|100|date=20180914|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 15, 2018}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Pig Destroyer}}
{{Authority control}}