Artist: Puig Destroyer
Album: Puig Destroyer
Genre: Grindcore
Label: No Sleep Records
The 2014 baseball postseason is here! From the reigning champion Boston Red Sox not making it this year to the Kansas City Royals making the playoffs for the first time in 29 years, anything can happen in the game of baseball. That is also the case for the baseball-centric grindcore outfit Puig Destroyer. With a moniker influenced by star outfielder Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers (who was introduced to the band’s music last year at an MLB event) and influential grindcore act Pig Destroyer, the band, consisting of Jon Howell and Ian Miller (Kowloon Walled City), Mike Minnick (Curl Up and Die), and Riley Breckinridge (Thrice), have been getting ready for the postseason in explosive fashion with the release of their self-titled, baseball-themed record Puig Destroyer.
The record starts off with a voice introduction by renowned Dodger announcer Vin Scully on the track “Baseball: The Best.” This is followed by the band exploding into the regular season of the record, showing they are no joke anymore after releasing two EPs that are of the same musical format. Tracks like “Umpshow,” “Batflip” and “Twin Killing” really show that baseball is the center of attention around the band’s lyrics in the form of Minnick’s growly screams, which includes “Take Damage” talking about taking a fastball to the face. “Call To The Bullpen” and “Top Prospect” show some of Jon Howell’s slick guitar riffs on the higher strings that accompany the usual chugging guitars on other tracks.
Songs like “Mike Trout” and “Trumbomb” hit above average in giving Angels outfielders Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo the credit they deserve in being the power hitters they are in real life. Speaking of power hitters, Breckinridge really steps up to home plate in his capability of utilizing double bass pedals and various drum patterns, a feat that was not showcased on recent Thrice releases. The other parts of the rhythm section in Ian Miller’s bass are sludgy in their own way and act as another guitar in other instances or being the clean-up hitter while the bases are loaded with other instruments.
Puig Destroyer deliver 20 tracks in an All-Star lineup that could possibly beat any other regular 9-man lineup. The band knows throughout the record that they have a long season ahead of them and even though they may have had their ups and downs, they do prevail in winning the pennant race with this release. Seriously though, “No One Cares About Your Fantasy Team” but you should care about this winning album.
SCORE: 9/10
Review written by Ryan Kappy
