MUSIC REVIEWS

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Melvins

The Melvins are known as “The Godfather’s of Grunge Music” with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Tool naming them as primal influences in their experimentation of rock and grunge music. The band is made up of three members (and sometimes a fourth drummer) with guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover being the primary and always withstanding members of this staple to grunge music.

The two began the band in the early 80’s and are known for their experimentation with sound, un-even melodies, and music without any rules. In their latest release, Melvins EP, the band does just that with three singles - “Dies Iraea,” “It Tastes Better Then the Truth (remix),” and “Youth of America.”

“Dies Iraea” is a completely instrumental song consisting of a very foreboding and slow intro, a heavy grunge bass, and a guitar sound hinting Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”

“It Tastes Better Then the Truth” is a song that begins with a strong drum and faster tempo. The only way I can define this song is to describe it as the sounds and voices of Dante’s “The Inferno.” The melody slows down as your ears are taken to a dark hallway of pleading and despaired voices that can hardly be made out. This is definitely the kind of song you would find in a top notch haunted mansion on Hallow’s Eve!

“Youth of America” is far different from the first two songs on the EP. Instead of a dark and eerie beat, the song features an upbeat guitar, a cleaned up melody, and a steady rhythm with lyrics and chorus. This song defines their grunge genre with a sound of the likes of Alice in Chains and Judas Priest melted into one - a result of another Melvins experiment!

Written by Cristina Szewczyk