Warpig is a Canadian hard rock and progressive rock band that was first formed in 1968. During the group’s initial run, Warpig played shows with groups like Savoy Brown, Manfred Mann, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. A couple of members had left the band around 1975, and the group disbanded officially a little while later. During their time together, the band only released one album, Warpig (1972), which had become something of a collector’s item by the time the early 2000s rolled around. After seeing original copies of their record selling for high prices on eBay, the group decided to reunite, and according to the group’s Wikipedia page, Warpig is still together to this day, though there doesn’t seem to be much activity from the group in the most recent decade from what I can tell with a quick glance online. I really enjoy groups that Warpig played with earlier in their career, so I’m pretty excited to check this one out. With that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Flaggit” starts out with some strong guitar tones that very much remind me of psychedelic progressive rock groups from the late 1960s like Family. I’m really digging the low, tight, chunky sound of the bass guitar (though it may be some organs I’m hearing) in this track. Oh wow, both the guitar and drums have a classic psychedelic prog rock sound that I really dig. Super sweet tune, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Tough Nuts” starts out with some strange tones from what sounds to be distorted organs, which have a sort of ominous feel that reminds me a bit of a mixture of Black Sabbath and The Doors. The distorted, ominous tone of guitar work really complements the playing from the organs nicely. Super sweet track.
“Melody With Balls” gets grooving with a medley of hard rock guitar riffs driven by a strong beat that almost feel like a blend of classic rock and hard rock. Oh wow, the soundscape seems to mellow out in a psychedelic manner after a bit. Holy smokes, the guitar work has a really groovy and seemingly enchanting feel with some meandering distorted lines that I’m really digging. Oh wow, the soundscape seems to deconstruct into an almost space-like sound that feels like some sort of hard rock version of Gong. Oh wow, I really dig the bass piano/organs grooving along with the drums while the guitar plays some super groovy, distorted hard rock and psychedelic prog rock licks. Oh wow, the chaotic finish to the track almost sounds like rain in space. Great tune.
“Advance In A Minor” gets started with some really interesting minor chords from what sounds to be an organ, which are soon complemented by what almost sounds to be a harpsichord that seem to echo the organs from the other side of the soundscape. Oh wow, the soundscape changes up to a more upbeat, major-key-feeling after a bit. Oh wow, the track changes up again as the soundscape continually evolves into an epic-sounding prog rock track. There are some background vocals for a moment that add nicely to the ambiance of the soundscape, and then the track seems to resolve to the intro movement of the song with some additional layers in the form of a repetitive bass drums, an almost droning bass tone that moves along with the beat, and some really sweet piano that seems to accentuate the organs. Oh wow, the track seems to keep building on itself as the music continues. Holy smokes, the tension resolves to some really groovy, sort of dark licks from either a piano or a guitar, or both, which remind me a bit of TOOL. Oh wow, I really dig the resolution of the song as a whole. Great track.
“Rock Star” starts with a groovy, dynamic beat, which is soon joined by some bass-y, distorted grooves from what sounds to be a bass guitar, which is echoed with some palm-muted notes on the other side of the soundscape. Oh wow, the lead guitar plays some really groovy lines that sort of remind me a bit of a slightly more psychedelic version of Jeff Beck from the early 1970s. I really dig the drumming in this track, which really changes up nicely between tight fills and airy swings as the soundscape seemingly mellows and intensifies. Oh wow, the outro of the song seems to stutter with the beat as more tension builds and is finally released in the last measure of the tune. Great track.
“Sunflight” gets started with some tight psychedelic progressive rock grooves from the drums, bass guitar, and organs that I’m really digging. The instrumentation almost reminds me of some progressive rock rework by Vanilla Fudge of The Doors’ song, “Hello, I Love You”, and I’m really digging the resulting sound. Oh wow, the track enters a sort of psychedelic hard rock exploratory movement comprised of meandering, strong, distorted lead guitar lines, while the rhythm section seems to slow down a bit. Great tune.
Oh wow, “U.X.I.B.” begins with some really sounds from what seems to be a harpsichord and an acoustic guitar, which introduce a sort of baroque or even medieval folksy style that I’m really digging. Oh wow, the folksy intro stops, and soon what sounds to be a rumbling from a rapid bass line gradually fades in, which then gives way to some really groovy psychedelic rock sounds with swirling organs and far-out lead guitar that remind me of a more hard rock-oriented version of Vanilla Fudge. Oh wow, I really dig the vocals that come into the track, which have a really groovy, classic psychedelic rock sound reminiscent of the late 1960s. Oh wow, the track seems to enter a new, speedy movement after the shimmering of some cymbals; the speedy movement almost sounds like a hard psychedelic rock version of the Tetris theme music. Oh wow, the track resolves back to the main groove from earlier in the track after more shimmering cymbals. Holy smokes, I really dig the organs at the end of the track. Great tune.
“The Moth” gets started with a really groovy blend of drums and deep organs/keyboards that remind me a ton of The Doors. Oh wow, the song enters a different, tension-building movement and the drums continually intensify as the music continues, culminating in a bit of a drum solo before the track resolves back to the Doors-like movement. Oh wow, the track just went finished the tension-building movement again, but the soundscape seems to have resolved to a really mellow, space-like soundscape with some sweet guitar work as the main focus, while other instruments seem to add some distant sounds. Holy smokes, the track resolves back to the Doors-like movement again after the spacey section. Oh wow, the soundscape again enters the tension-building movement, but it soon sounds as though that someone unplugged the record player that the record was playing on. Super groovy track, and a great way to finish the album.
I’m definitely glad that I checked out Warpig tonight. I was reminded a bit of psychedelic progressive rock groups from the late 1960s like Family, and I was also reminded of a sort of more hard rock-oriented blend of Vanilla Fudge and The Doors at a few times during the listening experience. The music could also take ominous turns with a hard rock sound reminiscent of groups like Black Sabbath. I was also reminded a bit of Jeff Beck from the early 1970s with the guitar work at some points as well. If you’re a fan of psychedelic hard rock or more hard rock-oriented progressive rock from the early 1970s, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, then I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A