Voodoo Pigs: Texas Brothers Revive the Raw Heart of Rock with a DIY Psychedelic Punk Punch
In an industry often dominated by autotune and image-first branding, Voodoo Pigs are a much-needed blast of raw, unfiltered rock energy. The Dallas-based band, made up of brothers Cole and Troy Barba, is turning heads and smashing stereotypes with their self-financed, emotionally driven sound that blends psychedelic rock, stoner metal, grunge, and punk into one defiant voice.
Born from Brotherhood and Battlefields
Music has always been in the DNA of the Barba brothers, but life kept them from committing to it full-time—until recently. Lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Cole Barba spent the last five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, often deployed or off the grid during long field operations. His only chances to record with drummer Troy Barba came once a year over holiday breaks.
challenges
Despite limited time and resources, the two turned every reunion into a creative sprint. “We had one shot, once a year, to lay it all down,” Cole shares. “That urgency is in every note of our early stuff. It’s not polished—but it’s real.
From the Garage to Rolling Stone’s Radar
Their debut EP, Flashes, dropped in January—recorded in under 24 hours and full of improvised solos and raw, unfiltered emotion. “You can literally hear the desperation in the vocals, the anger in the drums, and the joy in the guitars,” they say. “We didn’t fake anything. We captured the moment.”
That authenticity has gained traction. Voodoo Pigs are currently in 1st place in Rolling Stone’s Next Top Hitmaker contest, beating out acts with bigger budgets and flashier production. Their secret? A DIY spirit that never compromises.
A New Era with “The Black”
Their follow-up EP, The Black, is set to release by end of June 2025, and will feature six new tracks that dive even deeper into their dark, heavy, and psychedelic side. It’s a clear evolution—more structured, but still completely self-made and emotionally raw.
“We’ve faced everything from financial struggle to personal breakdowns while making this record,” Troy adds. “But it’s coming—and it’s honest.”
Reclaiming Rock for the Misfits
The band’s mission is bigger than streaming numbers. They want to bring back the unpredictable, unpolished heart of rock. “We’re not trying to be perfect,” Cole says. “We’re trying to be real. We want to make rock and roll dangerous again—emotional again.”
With no label, no handlers, and no filters, Voodoo Pigs stand as a symbol for what’s still possible in modern music: real artists making real music on their own terms.
