Great Pig by Ben and Lenny

Great Pig is a guitar-driven concept album by Ben and Lenny with a wide variety of influences, from acoustic ballads to hard-hitting heavy metal.

PROLOGUE:
After an apocalyptic war nearly wipes out the human race, only two civilizations survive. Himinour and Heimisgar each view the other as a dire enemy, yet neither remembers why.

In Heimisgar, word breaks out that a peace treaty has been brokered with Himinour in order to facilitate trade and keep both camps alive. The symbolic initiation of the agreement, which will serve as confirmation to the people that a meeting did in fact take place, is said to arrive in the form of a Great Pig in the sky. Once the pig has been sighted by Heimisgar, it will be safe enough for them to reach out to Himinour.

Years go by with no pig sighting, despite the people of Heimisgar's vigilance. Eventually, the story of the meeting and the Great Pig becomes merely mythical in nature. This does not prevent the people of Heimisgar from believing it, however.

ACT I:
Our hero, Halvar of Heimisgar, has had enough. Unable to hear Himinour lamenting and empathizing with his people (Bottom Of Heaven), he is oblivious to the fact that the Great Pig has finally been released (Cut Him Loose). He decides to take matters into his own hands, recruiting a team of similarly disgruntled citizens of Heimisgar to wreak havoc upon Himinour (Battering Ram). Halvar and his crew begin to fancy themselves heroic warriors, careening towards battle for the good of their people (Stone Giants).

ACT II:
As morale peaks, their journey is interrupted by a transmission from Radio Swine, alerting them that the Great Pig has been spotted overhead (Hooves Up). Halvar struggles with a next move, but ultimately decides to lead his team back to Heimisgar (Turn Around And Face It). Upon his return, he is met with an extravagant, yet ultimately hollow, celebration. He sees through it all: Heimisgar manufactured the radio transmission to keep him under control (Welcome Home).

ACT III:
With renewed vengeance, Halvar escapes the scene and resumes his journey alone (Lost Time). He is confident and committed, but he quickly realizes the difficulty of operating the battering ram by himself. As he sets up camp for the night, he is met with the sudden, painful realization that he will never see his loved ones again. Halvar's entire life spreads out before him in a moment of heartbreaking nostalgia, and a fond memory from his childhood is the last thing he hears before falling asleep (Goodbye Forever). He is awoken in the predawn by an apparition hovering above him. Confused and somewhat frightened, Halvar wonders whether the object is indeed the Great Pig, or whether he is losing his mind (Final Flight).

Ben and Lenny is a collaboration between Ben Rones and Lenny Violet. Equal parts Joe Satriani and the Velvet Underground, this project is a genre-bending excursion to the depths of rock music.