UMUR
"Stress Related" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, Nevada based grindcore/death metal act Righteous Pigs. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in 1990. It´s the successor to "Live and Learn" from 1989 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Scott Leonard has been replaced by Alan Strong. Righteous Pigs formed in 1986 in Las Vegas and featured future Napalm Death guitarist Mitch Harris in the lineup. Righteous Pigs folded soon after the release of "Stress Related" and Harris joined Napalm Death in time for the recording of "Harmony Corruption (1990)".
While "Live and Learn (1989)" was a very raw and unpolished grindcore release, Righteous Pigs have opted to include more heavy mid-paced death metal influences on "Stress Related", which is therefore more in the deathgrind fold than the more hardcore punk influenced grindcore predecessor. At least that´s the impression after listening to the opening track "Eulogy", which features death growling vocals and a riff and rhythm style which wouldn´t have been out of place on "Harmony Corruption (1990)". On the following track "Boundries Unknown" and on the remaining tracks on the album, lead vocalist Joe Caper sings using a more hardcore influenced screaming/shouting type delivery, closer to the vocal style on the debut album (maybe a little more extreme at times). The instrumental part of the music features both mid-paced death metal parts and grindcore blast beat sections, so while it´s sligthly odd that the vocal style changes from the opening track to the rest of the material, the music style is pretty consistent throughout.
"Stress Related" features a raw, powerful and overall well sounding production, which suits the music well. So upon conclusion it´s a quality grindcore/death metal release and it´s also obvious that Righteous Pigs have developed as musicians and composers since "Live and Learn (1989)", which was incredibly raw and unpolished (although still greatly charming). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.