Pig Pen, a brand new hardcore band made up of longtime friends, has signed with Flatspot Records and announced their debut album, Mental Madness, which comes out June 27. Their first single, “Mental Mentality,” is out now, along with a video that includes scenes from the studio and footage from their first live show.
The group includes chef and actor Matty Matheson (known for The Bear), guitarists Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire) and Daniel Romano, drummer Ian Romano, and bassist Tommy Major. Though many of them are known for other music or projects, Pig Pen is a return to the intense, aggressive hardcore music they all grew up loving.
Their sound is raw and loud, filled with fast riffs and powerful rhythms. On “Mental Mentality,” Matheson screams, “I have the mental madness. I’m sick. I’m sick. I’m sick.” It’s the kind of song made to be shouted back at the band during live shows.
Pig Pen played their first concert in April at Sneaky Dee’s in Toronto. Now, they’re sharing their music with the world. All ten songs on Mental Madness were written in a single day and recorded the next. The band recorded and produced it themselves, then sent the tracks to Arthur Rizk for mixing and Alan Douches for mastering.
The album mixes hardcore sounds from the 1980s with the feel of classic rock and roll. The lyrics focus on mental health—things like isolation, self-doubt, and the battle between how life looks on the outside and how it feels on the inside.
“You can be with friends, having a great day,” says Matheson, “but your brain still brings you down. This album is about that.”
Pig Pen’s Mental Madness is available for preorder now from Flatspot Records. It’s loud, honest, and made by a team of musicians who know exactly what kind of record they want to make.