ARE THEY METAL?: Melvins

Melvins are a band that are abstract and diverse in their legacy. Over 40 years, the band has strayed from convention, dabbling in different waters of genres and not caring what critics and fans thought of the record. Though they were a band that grew in popularity during the peak of the Seattle grunge sound of the 90's, the band veered away from the popularity of that scene. Helping what some might say, create and pioneer the sludge metal sound that would become more prevalent in relation to the NOLA sound of acts like Crowbar and Eyehategod.

Their first two albums, 1987's Gluey Porch Treatments and 1989's Ozma, are considered a blueprint to the sludge metal genre. Though pioneers in the genre, the band didn't keep that sound with every record. Pushing experimentation with ambience, alternative and traditional heavy metal with later releases. But is this pacific northwest act metal? Have they wandered too far away from the metal roots they helped create, to head into an obscure, alternative and avant-garde sound? Today, I try to answer the unconventional question of Melvins, are they metal?

Like I mentioned earlier in this piece, Melvins have been cited as the band that created the sludge metal genre. With their debut Gluey Porch Treatments being released before the acts of Crowbar, Acid Bath and Eyehategod's debut albums would be released. Following that record up with an even better record (in my opinion) with Ozma two years later, the band cemented their impact in not only heavy metal, but in creating a genre that many bands would take inspiration for or invoke their spin on the genre's origins. With chugging guitars and dirge-like pacing throughout both records, the album would be influential. Showing that their is more than just grunge coming from the pacific northwest of the time.

With the band's 1991 album Bullhead, the band would even push their sludgy sound into an even further, droning variation that fans of Sunn O))) might even dig. With longer songs that encapsulated a longer, simpler version of the band's known sound and a shorter track listing, the album would be an influence to experimental act Boris, who would take their name from the album's opening track. Though more ambient and droning in nature, the band would switch up their sound a bit on their next album, which would be the album that would break them into mainstream popularity during the 90's.

The band would reach peak popularity with the release of the band's fifth album Houdini. "Produced" by Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, who guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osbourne said in later interviews that Cobain was too high to produce the album, was a hodgepodge of the band's normal sludgy sound, combining more of the alternative/grunge elements that soared in popularity during the peak of the grunge movement. Leading off with the album's single "Hooch", it received high praise and popularity upon release, with the band even covering the KISS song "Goin' Blind". Houdini also showed the band's experimentation begin to develop. With electronic elements on "Pearl Bomb" showing the potential direction that the band would head going forward in the band's next album.

The band's follow up, 1994's Prick, showed the band's "metal" title begin to come into question. With the experimentation of alternative rock, ambience and electronics/sampling, it would be a dramatic shift from the band's previous output. Even Osbourne would call the record:

"a total noise crap record we did strictly for the weirdness factor. Complete and utter nonsense, a total joke."  

The band's next album, 1994's Stoner Witch, showed the band return back to the creativity and musical direction of Houdini. Incorporating stoner rock as well as sludge metal and grunge on the album, it didn't quite match the same popularity and success that Houdini delivered. Songs like "Revolver" and "Queen" are true standout tracks on the album, showing the band lean heavily into the metal-side of their sound.

The band would continue the experimentation with a three-album cycle. With albums The Maggot, The Bootlicker and The Crybaby all released in less than a year. The band pushed their unique, avant-garde sound to new extremes. The Maggot being the band's normal sludge metal sound, while The Bootlicker was a more a poppier sounding record, and The Crybaby incorporating alt rock and even country on that album. Released on Ipecac Recordings, a label owned by Faith No More front man Faith No More, the albums truly was Melvins at their most experimental. Pushing boundaries in their sound and challenging the norms that the band were kings at doing with their sound. Being as abstract and unconventional that acts like Primus, Captain Beefheart and The Residents made famous. Creating art and diverse & divisive music that makes them certain niche acts for fans of certain types of music and genres.  

The band also collaborated with countless other non-metal acts. The band would collaborate with experimental musician and composer Lustmord on the 2004 album Pigs of The Roman Empire. They would release two very popular and well-received albums with legendary Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra under the banner Jello Biafra & The Melvins for two albums. With 2004's Never Breathe What You Can't See and 2005's Sieg Howdy! . This project seemed to be a perfect hybrid for the band. Mixing the lunacy and chaotic vocals of Biafra with the creativity and hard rock/punk aesthetic Melvins would deliver on these albums.

The band returned to a more doom/sludgy heavy sound with the band's 2006 album (A) Senile Animal. Forming a combined band with the band Big Business, the band would gain a heavier, impactful sound with a double drummer attack to the band's sound as well as during live performances. Adding more heft and weight to the band's sludgy, dirge-like sound that was reminiscent of the band's earliest albums. The band would continue this pacing and intensity for the next fourteen albums, up to the band's 27th album, 2024 Tarantula Heart.  

A band that didn't fit into any particular box throughout their career, Melvins are a band that is sometimes hard to describe what they are. Lyrically, they aren't dark like fellow sludge acts. With perplexing song titles like "She's Got Weird Arms", "Mister Dog is Totally Right" and "Flamboyant Duck", the band is truly an enigma and truly out of the norm with their songs. Songs combining simplicity, but complexity and technicallity in each of their albums. But the question still remains, are Melvins metal? In my opinion, yes they are metal. Is every album from the band metal? No. Are there a lot of metal releases in their discography? Absolutely. Their first two albums, along with (A) Senile Animal, The Bride Screamed Murder and Working With God are good examples of the band's metal sound in later releases.  

They still sadly get lumped into the grunge scene of the mid 90's, but the band was not grunge at all. Or if they were, there were moments of grunge in their music, but not to the same level, extent or popularity of acts like Nirvana or Pearl Jam. They remind me of acts like Soundgarden or Alice in Chains, that took inspiration from the scene of the time, but switched up the formula to create a new concoction. Their song pacing, abstract lyrics and complex sound made them fit into the sludge metal waters and if I had to put some kind of genre on the band to somehow describe them, that would be the one I pick. A band that was truly innovative at their time and still touring consistently with every release. Creating and influencing a sound that truly was unique for the time of its release.

Melvins a band to be praised for doing something out of the norm and the legacy they would leave behind. Osbourne has a quote I found online that I think truly encapsulates the band's motto and mentality when it comes to their music:

I never wanted to be part of any scene, I never wanted to be a part of anything, I wanted to do my own thing. Those are the lessons I learned from punk rock.

And that sums up Melvins, they are band that doesn't want to be labeled. They challenge the genre/subgenre titles. If you expect them to do this sound with any record, they will flip you the bird and play what they want to play. They don't care if they veer into electronica, ambience, noise, art rock or doom metal. That is what the band does best, they keep you guessing with each album on what the band will sound like on that record, at that time and with that band lineup. For me, Melvins are metal and are a true underappreciated band not only in metal, but in the genre they formed, and deserve way more recognition than they get today.

Do you think Melvins are metal? Do you agree/disagree with me? Let us know in the comments section on our social media pages. You can also let us know what band/musician/genre you'd like us to tackle next.