- Melvins are among the great ‘90's survivors. Their sludgy metal crawl was a well-documented influence on Kurt Cobain and the grunge movement; however while that very movement has long since come and gone, Melvins have remained active, mavericks who have transcended genre not unlike Neurosis or Mudhoney who also maintain a continuous existence in the American underground.
Melvins, although known essentially for hardcore-infused sludge rock, have never been content to stick to one style of music. Frequently taking in other influences such as experimental music and noise, they are also underrated for their strong melodic sense and frequent use of vocal harmony.
Although there is harmony in their new album Pinkus Abortion Technician, there is also stoner metal, world music and nightmarish hallucinogenic humour a la Butthole Surfers. That’s clearly no coincidence, as stepping in on second bass is that band’s Jeff Pinkus, which means multiple frequencies of bottom end perforate these eight bizarre but enormously entertaining tracks.
Like most collaborative records, this doesn’t feature the best work of either Melvins or their Texan collaborator. However, it is a surprisingly accessible collection of gonzo rock & roll.
One of the most curious songs is its opener Stop Moving To Florida, which begins with a presumably satirical sun-kissed rush of bubblegum rock before it suddenly transforms into a stop-start jalopy of a tune, complete with cartoonish redneck vocals. If that’s a bit too whacked out for your tastes, there are weird but more balanced moments such as the nearly eight-minute Don’t Forget To Breathe which effectively marries slowed-down sludge with twinkling Asian instrumentation.
There’s a fun reimagining of I Want To Hold Your Hand which retains The Beatles’ harmonies but places them in the context of prowling stoner metal. The other cover on the album is a convincing take on Butthole Surfers’ Graveyard. But it is the originals that impress the most, the likes of Flamboyant Duck and Prenup Butter transcending their rather daft song titles.
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll find more essential Melvins records out there, but as an experiment in dual bass sounds and creative collaboration, this is more than just mates making self-indulgent noise. It’s a legitimately strong album that finds the balance between pastiche and genuine gut-punching impact.
- Matt Thrower.