Back in 1983, when the Melvins first got started, it was Mike Dillard behind the drum kit. Not long after, Dale Crover took over—and he’s stuck around ever since. But every now and then, the Melvins return to their original 1983 lineup.
That was the case with 2021’s Working With God, which at times revived the high-school humor of their early days—see the cheeky Beach Boys parody “I Fuck Around.”
Thunderball (Ipecac) now marks the third album from the 1983 lineup. This time, Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne promised something more bombastic. To that end, electronic artists Ni Maîtres and Void Manes were brought on board—though they keep a respectful distance in the mix.
The heaviness is there, and so is the seriousness. It’s a classic Melvins album—with a few extra bleeps. The opener “King of Rome” is as tight as ever, eventually giving way to a synth-laced interlude.
Next up is the menacing “Short Hair With A Wig.” It’s Melvins 2025: still the relentless steamroller, but with a wink. Classic sludgy power, but not without surprises. “Venus Blood,” for example, feels relatively airy. Turns out they can do that too.
Melvins – Thunderball: The classic Melvins. – RIFL