Pig Pen, a hardcore supergroup featuring Matty Matheson, has announced their debut album, Mental Madness, slated for release on June 27th, 2025. The band has also launched their first single, "Mental Mentality".
The group consists of Matheson, known for his role in The Bear, on vocals, Wade MacNeil from Alexisonfire on guitar, and three members of Daniel Romano's Outfit: Daniel Romano (guitar), Ian Romano (drums), and Tommy Major (bass).
"Mental Mentality" Single
"Mental Mentality" showcases the band's frenetic hardcore style. The song begins with a noise-rock riff reminiscent of the Jesus Lizard, escalating into blistering speeds as Matheson delivers the lyrics. Pig Pen reportedly composed each song on Mental Madness in a single day, following months of riff sharing.
Album Details
The 10 tracks were self-recorded and produced shortly thereafter. Arthur Rizk (Fucked Up, Power Trip) handled the mixing, and Alan Douches mastered the album. Matheson describes the LP's lyrical content as focusing on "mental health shit".
Matheson elaborated on the album's themes, stating that one's brain can ruin a beautiful day even when surrounded by friends. He added that regardless of life's circumstances, self-hatred can persist, prompting the question of why such feelings arise.