UMUR "Phantom Limb" is the 4th full-length studio album by US grindcore act Pig Destroyer. The album was released in June 2007 by Relapse Records. Since "Terrifyer (2004)" the band have added Blake Harrison (Samples/Ambience) to the ranks, but still no bass player, which means that Pig Destroyer basically create their music with only guitar, drums, vocals and now Samples/Ambience. Blake Harrison is rather subdued though and besides the occassional sample, I don´t really think he adds much to the sound. At least not something I notice.

The music on the album is raw and aggressive grindcore but with the occassional thrashy/ hardcore infused riff. The band have been accused of adding "core" elements to their sound on "Phantom Limb", but I don´t think that´s true. At least not in a sense that the music is metalcore in any way. Like on the last release the vocals are distorted, hystarical, screaming, yelling and aggressive. The production is also distorted but very professional and powerful. It´s not easy to make an album sound this full without a bass. The band successfully vary the pace on the album to not make the album one long grindfest. Personally I appreciate the variation, which isn´t exactly the focus of most grindcore acts.

While "Phantom Limb" isn´t exactly as surprising or innovative as "Terrifyer", I still think Pig Destroyer have produced a very good album. The songwriting is inspired and adventurous ( within the confines of the genre), the production is excellent and the musicianship is solid too. Pig Destroyer are one of those few grindcore acts that actually have an instantly identifiable sound and that´s quite the achivement in a genre with very limited possibilities of expression. Hardcore grindfreaks might even find this one too adventurous. A 3.5 - 4 star rating is deserved.