Photo by Patrick Moore

The hardcore passion project led by chef, media personality and recent Emmy-winning producer of The Bear Matty Matheson has gone from one-off to real deal. The band which also features longtime friends and veterans of the scene including Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire/Gallows, Daniel and Ian Romano of Attack in Black and Tommy Major recently made their live debut during a hometown set in Toronto last month. 

Now, the band has officially announced plans to proceed and have connected with a formidable ally in Flatspot Records. Home to heavy hitters in SPEED, End It, Buggin' and more, Pig Pen has now confirmed their spot on the Flatspot roster. Along with the news of the signing, the band has confirmed the June 27th release of their debut full length album, Mental Madness. 

Fleshing out the ideas for the songs from long distance and over the course of a months, the band would eventually connect to complete the tracks in one day and record them all the very next. Embracing a real DIY DNA, the band's ability to act on impulse and refine it, results in a potent meld of 80's, time-tested hardcore executed with rock music sensibility. With Arthur Rizk on the mix and Alan Douches on the master - the album makes for a walloping introduction. 

Marking the official beginning of the Flatspot era for Pig Pen, the band have delivered the album's title track. Shifting from slow burn to raging inferno, the combination of Matheson and McNeil barreling into their vocals make for an outing that delivers a gut-punch of intensity.

Matheson shared the headspace of the track, “You can be having a beautiful day, surrounded by friends,” Matheson explains, “and your brain can continuously ruin it. No matter how good or bad your life is, you can still hate yourself. I've got to ask myself why am I feeling the ways I'm feeling?”

Mental Madness is due out June 27th via Flatspot Records. The album is available for pre-order - HERE