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Rank #435
Melvins
Aberdeen, Washington sludge originators whose influence runs through Sub Pop's roster.
From Wikipedia
Melvins are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Primarily a trio, they have also performed as a quartet, with either two drummers or two bassists. Since 1984, vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been constant members.
Members
- Buzz Osborne
Discography & Previews
Browse through and click an album to open and play 30-second previews streamed from Apple Music.
Gluey Porch Treatments
1987 · 29 tracks
- 1 Eye Flys ↗ 6:16
- 2 Echo / Don't Piece Me ↗ 2:51
- 3 Heater Moves & Eyes ↗ 3:52
- 4 Steve Instant Neuman ↗ 1:32
- 5 Influence of Atmosphere ↗ 1:52
- 6 Exact Paperbacks ↗ 0:43
- 7 Happy Gray or Black ↗ 2:02
- 8 Leeech ↗ 2:32
- 9 Glow God ↗ 0:51
- 10 Big as Mountain ↗ 0:57
- 11 Heaviness of the Load ↗ 3:06
- 12 Flex With You ↗ 0:54
- 13 Bitten Into Sympathy ↗ 1:45
- 14 Gluey Porch Treatments ↗ 0:48
- 15 Clippng Roses ↗ 0:49
- 16 As It Was ↗ 2:52
- 17 Over from Under the Excrement ↗ 4:39
- 18 Echohead (Demo) ↗ 0:32
- 19 Flex With You (Demo) ↗ 0:59
- 20 Don't Piece Me (Demo) ↗ 2:21
- 21 Bitten Into Sympathy (Demo) ↗ 1:31
- 22 Exact Paperbacks (Demo) ↗ 0:46
- 23 Glow God / Big as a Mountain (Demo) ↗ 1:55
- 24 Heaviness of the Load (Demo) ↗ 3:04
- 25 Happy Gray or Black (Demo) ↗ 1:59
- 26 Heater Moves & Eyes (Demo) ↗ 4:29
- 27 Gluey Porch Treatments (Demo) ↗ 0:53
- 28 Eye Flys (Demo) ↗ 3:12
- 29 Clipping Roses (Demo) ↗ 0:56
Ozma
1989 · 16 tracks
- 1 Vile ↗ 3:47
- 2 Oven ↗ 1:29
- 3 At a Crawl ↗ 2:46
- 4 Let God Be Your Gardener ↗ 1:52
- 5 Creepy Smell ↗ 2:05
- 6 Kool Legged ↗ 2:48
- 7 Green Honey ↗ 1:14
- 8 Agonizer ↗ 1:40
- 9 Raise a Paw ↗ 1:11
- 10 Love Thing ↗ 1:18
- 11 Ever Since My Accident ↗ 1:30
- 12 Revulsion / We Reach ↗ 6:21
- 13 Dead Dressed ↗ 2:08
- 14 Cranky Messiah ↗ 1:26
- 15 Claude ↗ 1:15
- 16 My Small Percent Shows Most ↗ 0:58
Stag
1996 · 16 tracks
- 1 The Bit ↗ 4:43
- 2 Hide ↗ 0:49
- 3 Bar-X the Rocking M ↗ 2:22
- 4 Yacobs Lab ↗ 1:16
- 5 The Bloat ↗ 3:40
- 6 Tipping the Lion ↗ 3:46
- 7 Black Bock ↗ 2:41
- 8 Goggles ↗ 6:28
- 9 Soup ↗ 2:37
- 10 Buck Owens ↗ 3:09
- 11 Sterilized ↗ 3:29
- 12 Lacrimosa ↗ 4:38
- 13 Skin Horse ↗ 5:15
- 14 Captain Pungent ↗ 2:19
- 15 Berthas ↗ 1:23
- 16 Cottonmouth ↗ 1:56
The Maggot
1999 · 16 tracks
- 1 Amazon, Pt. 1 ↗ 0:52
- 2 Amazon, Pt. 2 ↗ 0:51
- 3 Amazon, Pt. 3 ↗ 2:51
- 4 Amazon, Pt. 4 ↗ 2:54
- 5 We All Love Judy, Pt 1 ↗ 1:14
- 6 We All Love Judy, Pt 2 ↗ 1:18
- 7 Manky, Pt. 1 ↗ 3:41
- 8 Manky, Pt. 2 ↗ 3:47
- 9 The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown), Pt. 1 ↗ 3:26
- 10 The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown), Pt. 2 ↗ 3:27
- 11 The Horn Bearer, Pt. 1 ↗ 1:13
- 12 The Horn Bearer, Pt. 2 ↗ 1:15
- 13 Judy, Pt. 1 ↗ 1:17
- 14 Judy, Pt. 2 ↗ 1:20
- 15 See How Pretty, See How Smart, Pt. 1 ↗ 4:28
- 16 See How Pretty, See How Smart, Pt. 2 ↗ 6:04
The Crybaby
2000 · 11 tracks
Electroretard
2001 · 13 tracks
- 1 The War on Wisdom ↗ 3:40
- 2 We Are Doomed ↗ 7:04
- 3 Friends Before Larry ↗ 4:19
- 4 A Really Long Wait ↗ 4:23
- 5 National Hamster ↗ 4:09
- 6 Shit Storm ↗ 1:01
- 7 Youth of America ↗ 9:17
- 8 Gluey Porch Treatments ↗ 0:47
- 9 Revolve ↗ 4:21
- 10 Missing ↗ 4:10
- 11 Lovely Butterflies ↗ 6:03
- 12 Tipping the Lion ↗ 3:48
- 13 Interstellar Overdrive ↗ 9:51
Sieg Howdy!
2005 · 10 tracks
- 1 Halo of Flies ↗ 7:43
- 2 Lighter Side of Global Terrorism (Extended Space-Melt Version) ↗ 7:55
- 3 Lessons In What Not to Become ↗ 4:05
- 4 Those Dumb Punk Kids (Will Buy Anything) ↗ 3:15
- 5 Wholly Buy-Bull ↗ 2:33
- 6 Voted Off the Island ↗ 0:50
- 7 Kali-Fornia Über Alles 21st Century (Live) ↗ 3:19
- 8 Dawn of the Locusts (March Of The Locusts Deadverse Remix) ↗ 5:40
- 9 Enchanted Thoughtfist (Enchanted Al Remix) ↗ 5:08
- 10 Caped Crusader (Subway Gas / Hello Kitty Mix) ↗ 7:33
(A) Senile Animal
2006 · 10 tracks
Nude With Boots
2008 · 11 tracks
Tres cabrones
2013 · 12 tracks
- 1 Doctor Mule ↗ 4:15
- 2 City Dump ↗ 3:28
- 3 American Cow ↗ 3:41
- 4 Tie My Pecker to a Tree ↗ 1:04
- 5 Dogs and Cattle Prods ↗ 8:59
- 6 Psychodelic Haze ↗ 4:06
- 7 99 Bottles of Beer ↗ 1:16
- 8 I Told You I Was Crazy ↗ 6:54
- 9 Stump Farmer ↗ 2:19
- 10 In the Army Now ↗ 1:08
- 11 Walter's Lips ↗ 3:13
- 12 Stick'em Bitch ↗ 4:13
Everybody Loves Sausages
2013 · 13 tracks
- 1 Warhead ↗ 4:41
- 2 Best Friend ↗ 2:31
- 3 Black Betty ↗ 1:47
- 4 Set It on Fire ↗ 2:36
- 5 Station to Station ↗ 11:20
- 6 Attitude ↗ 3:33
- 7 Female Trouble ↗ 3:11
- 8 Carpe Diem ↗ 3:06
- 9 Timothy Leary Lives ↗ 2:04
- 10 In Every Dream Home a Heartache ↗ 9:05
- 11 Romance ↗ 2:58
- 12 Art School ↗ 3:16
- 13 Heathen Earth ↗ 4:03
Hold It In
2014 · 12 tracks
- 1 Bride of Crankenstein ↗ 2:49
- 2 You Can Make Me Wait ↗ 2:49
- 3 Brass Cupcake ↗ 3:24
- 4 Barcelonian Horseshoe Pit ↗ 4:22
- 5 Onions Make the Milk Taste Bad ↗ 5:01
- 6 Eyes on You ↗ 3:24
- 7 Sesame Street Meat ↗ 3:28
- 8 Nine Yards ↗ 2:30
- 9 The Bunk Up ↗ 7:36
- 10 I Get Along (Hollow Moon) ↗ 2:35
- 11 Piss Pisstopherson ↗ 2:58
- 12 House of Gasoline ↗ 12:11
Basses Loaded
2016 · 12 tracks
- 1 The Decay of Lying ↗ 6:35
- 2 Choco Plumbing ↗ 4:12
- 3 Beer Hippie ↗ 5:16
- 4 I Want to Tell You ↗ 3:14
- 5 Captain Come Down ↗ 2:54
- 6 Hideous Woman ↗ 3:05
- 7 Shaving Cream ↗ 2:31
- 8 Planet Destructo ↗ 6:06
- 9 War P***y ↗ 2:48
- 10 Maybe I Am Amused ↗ 2:45
- 11 Phyllis Dillard ↗ 4:21
- 12 Take Me Out to the Ball Game ↗ 2:07
Three Men and a Baby
2016 · 12 tracks
- 1 Chicken 'n' Dump ↗ 3:35
- 2 Limited Teeth ↗ 3:48
- 3 Bummer Conversation ↗ 3:33
- 4 Annalisa ↗ 3:47
- 5 A Dead Pile of Worthless Junk ↗ 2:51
- 6 Read the Label (It's Chili) ↗ 4:40
- 7 Dead Canaries ↗ 2:37
- 8 Pound the Giants ↗ 3:23
- 9 A Friend in Need Is a Friend You Don't Need ↗ 2:25
- 10 Lifestyle Hammer ↗ 1:47
- 11 Gravel ↗ 2:09
- 12 Art School Fight Song ↗ 2:11
Five Legged Dog
2021 · 36 tracks
- 1 Edgar the Elephant (Acoustic) ↗ 3:31
- 2 Up the Dumper (Acoustic) ↗ 2:13
- 3 Hung Bunny / Roman Dog Bird (Acoustic) ↗ 12:34
- 4 Hooch (Acoustic) ↗ 2:37
- 5 Billy Fish (Acoustic) ↗ 4:08
- 6 Shevil (Acoustic) ↗ 5:13
- 7 Charlie (Acoustic) ↗ 2:07
- 8 A Growing Disgust (Acoustic) ↗ 4:56
- 9 Eye Flys / Woman (Acoustic) ↗ 8:18
- 10 Pitfalls in Serving Warrants (Acoustic) ↗ 2:49
- 11 Outside Chance (Acoustic) ↗ 2:11
- 12 Evil New War God (Acoustic) ↗ 4:34
- 13 The Bloated Pope (Acoustic) ↗ 3:52
- 14 Bad Move (Acoustic) ↗ 3:27
- 15 With Teeth (Acoustic) ↗ 2:45
- 16 Halo of Flies (Acoustic) ↗ 8:22
- 17 Oven (Acoustic) ↗ 1:55
- 18 Sway (Acoustic) ↗ 3:09
- 19 Anaconda (Acoustic) ↗ 2:50
- 20 Lovely Butterflies (Acoustic) ↗ 2:58
- 21 Boris (Acoustic) ↗ 6:57
- 22 It's Shoved (Acoustic) ↗ 2:41
- 23 Honey Bucket (Acoustic) ↗ 2:54
- 24 We Are Doomed (Acoustic) ↗ 6:48
- 25 Fly Paper (Acoustic) ↗ 2:27
- 26 Let God Be Your Gardener (Acoustic) ↗ 2:12
- 27 At the Stake (Acoustic) ↗ 1:40
- 28 Night Goat (Acoustic) ↗ 6:06
- 29 Queen (Acoustic) ↗ 2:42
- 30 Everybody's Talking (Acoustic) ↗ 2:45
- 31 Revolve (Acoustic) ↗ 3:52
- 32 Suicide in Progress (Acoustic) ↗ 2:55
- 33 Prig (Acoustic) ↗ 1:50
- 34 The Bit (Acoustic) ↗ 5:16
- 35 Civilized Worm (Acoustic) ↗ 6:43
- 36 Don't Forget to Breathe (Acoustic) ↗ 7:33
Working With God
2021 · 13 tracks
- 1 I F**k Around ↗ 2:22
- 2 Negative No No ↗ 3:51
- 3 Bouncing Rick ↗ 3:39
- 4 Caddy Daddy ↗ 4:26
- 5 1 Brian, The Horse-Faced Goon ↗ 0:43
- 6 Brian, The Horse-Faced Goon ↗ 2:06
- 7 Boy Mike ↗ 3:47
- 8 1 F**k You ↗ 2:28
- 9 F**k You ↗ 0:11
- 10 The Great Good Place ↗ 3:51
- 11 Hot Fish ↗ 4:59
- 12 Hund ↗ 3:15
- 13 Goodnight Sweet Heart ↗ 2:08
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Gluey Porch TreatmentsMelvins198729 tracks -
OzmaMelvins198916 tracks -
BullheadMelvins19918 tracks -
HoudiniMelvins199313 tracks -
Stoner WitchMelvins199411 tracks -
StagMelvins199616 tracks -
The BootlickerMelvins19999 tracks -
The MaggotMelvins199916 tracks -
The CrybabyMelvins200011 tracks -
ElectroretardMelvins200113 tracks -
Hostile Ambient TakeoverMelvins20028 tracks -
Pigs of the Roman EmpireMelvins20048 tracks -
Never Breathe What You Can’t SeeMelvins20048 tracks -
Sieg Howdy!Melvins200510 tracks -
(A) Senile AnimalMelvins200610 tracks -
Nude With BootsMelvins200811 tracks -
The Bride Screamed MurderMelvins20109 tracks -
Freak PukeMelvins201210 tracks -
Tres cabronesMelvins201312 tracks -
Everybody Loves SausagesMelvins201313 tracks -
Hold It InMelvins201412 tracks -
Basses LoadedMelvins201612 tracks -
Three Men and a BabyMelvins201612 tracks -
Pinkus Abortion TechnicianMelvins20188 tracks -
Five Legged DogMelvins202136 tracks -
Working With GodMelvins202113 tracks -
Bad Mood RisingMelvins20226 tracks -
Tarantula HeartMelvins20245 tracks -
ThunderballMelvins20255 tracks -
Savage Imperial Death MarchMelvins20258 tracks
Deep Dive
Overview
Melvins are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington, whose early work proved foundational to both grunge and sludge metal. Operating primarily as a trio, and occasionally as a quartet with either two drummers or two bassists, the band has remained centered on the partnership of vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover, who have been constant members since 1984. Their influence runs deep through Washington’s Sub Pop roster and beyond, establishing the template for how heaviness, slowness, and distortion could function as primary compositional tools rather than mere intensity.
Formation Story
Melvins coalesced in the small Washington lumber town of Montesano in 1983, emerging from the region’s nascent underground rock scene. The band’s core identity crystallized in 1984 when Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover joined forces, a partnership that would define the group’s entire history. The duo began crafting material that drew from heavy rock and metal traditions but filtered them through a regional sensibility shaped by grunge’s nascent ethos—turning up the distortion, slowing the tempo, and emphasizing texture over flashiness. This founding pair would remain the band’s backbone through decades of lineup fluctuations, establishing an early commitment to prolific output and stylistic experimentation.
Breakthrough Moment
Melvins’ earliest releases, beginning with Gluey Porch Treatments in 1987 and followed by Ozma in 1989, circulated within underground metal and punk communities but remained largely unknown outside hardcore circles. The true watershed came with Bullhead in 1991 and Lysol in 1992, albums that coincided with grunge’s broader commercial emergence from Seattle. Though Melvins never achieved the mainstream success of Nirvana or Soundgarden, these releases established them as the intellectual and sonic architects of grunge’s heavier, more experimental end. Houdini, released in 1993 as their third major statement, crystallized their reputation as uncompromising originators whose influence extended across the genre’s most adventurous practitioners.
Peak Era
The period from 1993 to 1997, spanning Houdini, Stoner Witch (1994), Stag (1996), and Honky (1997), represents Melvins’ most focused creative window. These albums established the sonic and conceptual parameters of stoner rock while the band simultaneously released companion projects—Prick (1994) appeared alongside Stoner Witch—demonstrating an eagerness to subdivide their output and explore adjacent sonic territories. By decade’s end, Melvins had become the template against which all sludge and stoner bands measured themselves: a slow, massively distorted sound derived from Black Sabbath but filtered through punk minimalism and grunge’s emotional directness.
Musical Style
Melvins’ sound is defined by tuned-down guitars, massive distortion, and tempos that dwarf conventional rock pacing. The band operates in a register of pure heaviness, with Osborne’s riffs often serving as the primary melodic and emotional vehicle; his vocals, when present, function as another textural layer rather than a virtuosic lead. Crover’s drumming emphasizes groove and pocket over speed or technical display, anchoring songs that can stretch well beyond conventional lengths. The rhythm section creates a sense of relentless forward motion despite the slowness, a paradox central to their appeal. Over their four-decade run, Melvins have incorporated elements of noise rock, experimental production, and occasional electronic textures, yet they remain fundamentally committed to the marriage of heaviness and accessibility that defined their 1990s breakthrough. Their willingness to expand the band into quartet formations—adding a second drummer or bassist—reflects an ongoing interest in layering and complexity without sacrificing their core aesthetic.
Major Albums
Bullhead (1991)
Melvins’ third album and first to gain traction beyond underground metal networks, Bullhead established the band’s canonical sound and served as a touchstone for Seattle’s heavier underground.
Houdini (1993)
Houdini arrived as grunge was cresting commercially and represented Melvins’ most polished and direct statement, proving the durability of their sludge template while maintaining uncompromising heaviness.
Stoner Witch (1994)
Released the same year as the companion Prick, Stoner Witch showcased the band’s ability to balance crushing riffs with memorable hooks, solidifying the “stoner rock” designation.
Stag (1996)
Stag demonstrated Melvins’ continued vitality in the mid-1990s, maintaining their sludge credentials while the broader grunge movement fractured and dispersed.
Nude with Boots (2008)
A late-period statement that proved Melvins’ creative appetite remained undimmed, showing the band’s capacity for reinvention and sustained relevance across decades.
Signature Songs
- “Honey Bucket” — A methodical descent into distorted sludge that became emblematic of the band’s ability to sustain heaviness across extended passages.
- “Boris” — Demonstrating how a stripped-down riff, given sufficient distortion and slowness, could function as the complete architecture of a song.
- “Lizzy” — Showcasing the band’s melodic undercurrent beneath layers of fuzz and feedback.
- “Houdini” — Title track that crystallized the band’s aesthetic during their creative peak.
Influence on Rock
Melvins’ influence on heavy music cannot be overstated. They provided the sonic and conceptual template for stoner rock and sludge metal, genres that gained substantial followings in the decades after their formation. Their early work was integral to grunge’s development, offering the blueprint for how extreme heaviness could coexist with melodic sensibility and emotional directness. Bands across multiple genres—from Sleep and Queens of the Stone Age to later doom and metal practitioners—owe a direct debt to Melvins’ innovations. The band’s willingness to prioritize texture and atmosphere over virtuosity or speed fundamentally altered rock’s relationship with distortion and slowness, proving these tools could generate sophistication rather than mere brutality.
Legacy
Now active for over four decades, Melvins remain prolific and continue to document their output across numerous releases. The consistency of Osborne and Crover’s partnership—spanning from 1984 onward—has provided continuity through changing trends, allowing the band to function as an institutional anchor for heavy music’s exploratory wing. Their discography, stretching from Gluey Porch Treatments through recent albums like Twins of Evil (2024) and Thunderball (2025), stands as a testament to their enduring commitment to their sound and aesthetic. Melvins have never pursued mainstream success, instead consolidating their influence through underground credibility and the respect of peers and musicians across multiple genres. Their continued activity ensures they remain available as a reference point for new generations exploring heavy music’s outer reaches.
Fun Facts
- Melvins have recorded material with configurations ranging from trio to quartet, including experiments with dual drummers and dual bassists, reflecting an ongoing interest in texture and layering.
- The band has released multiple albums in single years—such as 1999, which saw both The Bootlicker and The Maggot, and 2023, which produced three releases—demonstrating an exceptionally prolific creative pace.
- Montesano, Washington, though a small lumber town, produced one of heavy music’s most influential acts, underscoring the outsized creative output possible in unexpected geographic locations.