Natasha was originally released on 5.1 DVD audio formats as the bonus disc of Pig Destroyer’s 2004 album Terrifyer. 2008 sees the song being released as a standalone ep and it makes sense because the song is basically a 37 minute behemoth with the band experimenting with a sludge/doom/electronic sound with no trace of the grind that they are famous for.

The song basically goes through a series of moods and is broken up by electronic/ ambient interludes that pop up after every heavy bit. The riffs go from Pure era Godflesh to grind riffs played at a snail’s pace to gentle and quiet clean guitar parts that sound like something Mouth of the Architect would do with a melancholic female vocal chant in the background.

There is a long interlude in the middle with more ambient sounds and atmosphere building and even keyboards before the song once again slowly starts to build momentum. In fact the second half of the song is quite intense and when the band lock in to an Eyehategod styled riff at the 28 minute mark, you know Natasha is deadly serious and naysayers should leave the room.

Lyrically, Natasha is a Poe-esque tale of unrequited love, murder and guilt and like most Pig Destroyer songs the lyrics are of a high quality. Overall, I’m not sure if this is a direction the band will continue to go in. I’m sure a 37 minute sludge doom song would appeal to the band as being ironic and it is but while ironic, it is also very good. This is a song that flows and goes through a variety of moods, some intensely claustrophobic and some calm and gentle.

The band has really pulled off something a bit special with Natasha and while its appeal to their original fan base might be limited, it really is a great song and release for fans of sludge/ doom and stoner.



Label - Relapse
Year of Release - 2008