Seattle Subsonic

Melvins release 288th record. P.S. it’s good!

June 16th, 2008

OK, I know what you’re thinking. Who gives a fuck about these old metal dudes, right? I mean, haven’t they been around for like, 30 years or something? Truth be told, yes, these guys are as old as dirt, but didn’t your parents teach you to respect your elders? After all, if your elders are anything like mine, they get drunk and pull down their pants at family reunions. But I digress…

It’s been a couple of decades since the mighty Melvins packed up and migrated South, leaving behind their greasy, backwater brethren for the sunny locale of Hollywood, California. Before then, they were just another Northwest punk band doing their best to blend Black Flag, the Wipers and KISS into one goofball concoction of rock n’roll sludge. It can be duly noted, that the Melvins have forged an influential and rather perplexing career dedicated to befuddling listeners and record labels alike, plowing ahead well into their 40’s and showing no signs of letting up.

Their newest long player is called Nude With Boots and picks up where 2006’s excellent, (A) Senile Animal left off. Blending the 70’s arena rock stylings Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy with shards of art-damaged punk will make for a satisfying listen to those of you basking in the warm resurgence of guitar-centric, retro rock. Like their last record, Nude With Boots falls in line with the sound of recently absorbed Big Business, melding Jared and Coady’s bottom heavy, no bullshit approach to detuned debauchery. Tying in melody and actual hooks - a somewhat foreign concept for the Melvins in it’s early incarnations - this record offers loads of pummeling drum pyrotechnics and fuzzed out bass leads. Check out the title track, “Billy Fish” and “Suicide in Progress” as spaced out anthems to the holy rock grail. Not to be left out are Buzz’s heavier-than-your-Mom guitar dirges (Dog Island) and a ghostly instrumental (Dies Israea) that some of you may recognize as a re-hashed theme to ‘the Shining’.

Longtime fans will rejoice for the Melvins latest offering, while newer listeners might find this a good jumping off point. You’ll sleep better at night knowing that these lumbering dinosaurs are far from relics of a forgotten time. They’re still very much alive and kicking. Kicking the shit out of your ear drums.

Release date: July 8th, 2008, Ipecac Records