Rock/Review TWO TONNE MACHETE - PIGS PIGS
TWO TONNE MACHETE are a feminist punk band who make authentic, high-energy, feel-good punk anthems based in Northwest England. TTM are fronted by Emily (she/her—vocals/guitar/keys), Ro (he/him—bass), Thibaut (he/him—drums), and Mark (he/him—lead guitar).
“PIGS PIGS” by TWO TONNE MACHETE is not a song that asks politely for your attention—it takes it by force. Fierce, confrontational, and unrelenting, the track stands as a blistering piece of protest music for the present moment, capturing the anger simmering beneath a society where dissent is increasingly policed and punished.
Written in response to the escalating crackdown on protest across the UK, “PIGS PIGS” channels real-world injustice into raw sonic urgency. The song pulls no punches in its references, invoking tactics such as kettling, tasers, surveillance, and incarceration to expose how state power is wielded against those who resist. The lyrics feel less like metaphor and more like reportage, grounding the track in lived reality rather than abstract outrage.
The repeated chant—“Lights, gather, remember, to RUN!”—is especially chilling. Inspired by the violent police response to the candlelit vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common, it transforms collective grief into a warning cry. That moment gives the song its emotional core: rage born from witnessing mourning met with force, solidarity answered with suppression.
Musically, TWO TONNE MACHETE matches the message with sheer physical intensity. The track is loud, abrasive, and intentionally uncomfortable, refusing polish in favor of impact. Every element feels designed to provoke a reaction, whether it’s anger, recognition, or resolve.
At its heart, “PIGS PIGS” is about resistance and unity. It demands listeners not look away, not stay silent, and not accept intimidation as the cost of speaking out. This is protest music stripped to its essentials—urgent, uncompromising, and impossible to ignore.