Swastika Eyes

"Swastika Eyes" (stylised as "SWSTK YS" and also known as "War Pigs") is a song by Scottish rock band Primal Scream, released on 8 November 1999 as the lead single from their sixth studio album XTRMNTR (2000). The attention-grabbing title is an example of the band's confrontational style in this period, although they have stated that the song is an attack on corporations and governments.[2][3] The song peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Swastika Eyes"
Single by Primal Scream
from the album XTRMNTR
Released	8 November 1999[1]
Genre	Techno electronic rock
Length	8:10 (Jagz Kooner mix) 7:05 (The Chemical Brothers mix)
Label	Creation Astralwerks
Songwriter(s)	Primal Scream
Producer(s)	Jagz Kooner, The Chemical Brothers
Primal Scream singles chronology
"If They Move, Kill 'Em" (1998) "Swastika Eyes" (1999) "Kill All Hippies" (2000)

The "Swastika Eyes" single has two mixes of the song by The Chemical Brothers and Jagz Kooner respectively. Both mixes were included on the album XTRMNTR. The Spectre Mix by Kooner was listed as Jagz Kooner mix on the album.

Reception

Reviewing a live show from the XTRMNTR tour, Guardian critic Dave Simpson compared the song to the work of D.A.F.[4]

Track listing

12" single / Cassette single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers Mix)" (mixed by The Chemical Brothers)	7:09
2.	"Swastika Eyes (Spectre Mix)" (mixed by Jagz Kooner)	8:10

CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers Mix)" (mixed by The Chemical Brothers)	7:09
2.	"Swastika Eyes (Spectre Mix)" (mixed by Jagz Kooner)	8:10
3.	"Swastika Eyes (Edit)" (mixed by The Chemical Brothers)	4:01

Promo 12" single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Swastika Eyes (Spectre Mix)" (mixed by Jagz Kooner)	8:10
2.	"Swastika Eyes (David Holmes Mix)" (remixed by David Holmes)	5:44
3.	"Swastika Eyes (David Holmes Instrumental)" (remixed by David Holmes)	5:23

Japan CD maxi-single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers Mix)" (mixed by The Chemical Brothers)	7:09
2.	"Swastika Eyes (David Holmes Mix)" (remixed by David Holmes)	6:01
3.	"Swastika Eyes (Spectre Mix)" (mixed by Jagz Kooner)	8:10
4.	"Swastika Eyes (Edit)" (mixed by The Chemical Brothers)	4:01

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[5]	71
Scotland (OCC)[6]	17
UK Singles (OCC)[7]	22
UK Indie (OCC)[8]	4

References

1. "The Official Charts Company - Primal Scream". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
2. Basham, David. "Primal Scream talks controversial 'Eyes' track". MTV. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
3. King, Simon. "Everybody's Fucked." Jockey Slut. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
4. Simpson, Dave. "A Dose of Castor Oil". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2016. Snatches of lyrics…struggle to be heard amid an aural cacophony, complete with wailing saxophones, guitars like electric drills and PiL-esque soundscapes like walls of sheet metal clattering from a tower block. It comes to something when the jazz terrorism of If They Move, Kill 'Em (from their previous album) comes as light relief…only the DAF-prototype electronic funk singles, Swastika Eyes and Kill All Hippies, escape a sonic mauling.
5. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
8. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.

External links

• Music video (band YouTube page)