helterskelter.ca

THE MELVINS
1993 - Houdini.
1994 - Stoner Witch.
way more Helter Skelter.

September 21, 1993 - 2023: 30 years of: Houdini.

Grunge's divine Grand-Daddy.

Following 1992's stoner / doommetal Lysol CD, the fat-toners came back for more. The Washington wonders would finally get the break needed to claim the grunge-crown outta Seattle's mass-media's portrayal. Hard and heavy heritage from the originators of this scene, here are the lovable: MELVINS !

Get drunk with the cranium-splitting sludge of "Hooch". Ultra heaviness and laidback drums, another shot is provided with the "Night Goat", deadly darkness and downtuned. Aural apocalypse gets a soundtrack with the 7min+ doommetal-monster "Hag Me", while the rockabillia-vibed "Set Me Straight" and "Lizzy" brings a earthy feel to the overall mix.

The mosh-fest MTV anti-single single "Honey Bucket" might be 1993's heaviest track on a major-label. Fat and gritty, the palm-muting is real and the chaos is real. The added bonus KISS reprise in "Goin' Blind" is a nice nod to the Hottest Band In The World.

Now signed to Atlantic Records, this first major-label Garth Richardson mixed opus for the MELVINS was ironically released on the same day as NIRVANA's In Utero CD. Also ironically co-produced by ...Kurt Cobain, his actual participation was non-existent to say the least. Sadly Houdini disappeared from the Charts as soon as it appeared. Doesn't matter, DIYs don't need MTV, the underground knows were to find extremes.

The two-headed mutant would provide more muddy-riffs and soil speakers with 1994's Stoner Witch CD.

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Honey Bucket = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAW3AJFhKss
Hooch = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gshQQNGwU3k
Lizzy = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtH93py7H_0
Houdini = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbBbXt7MdQ&list=OLAK5uy_nFmgSgJsTe23xmmvFD0flCa1DiXHQ4Zbo
MTV interview in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZxK5iP-5q8
Live in Los Angeles in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZrD9fbiiBs
Buzzo showing us how to play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M648mDUbf54

October 18, 1994 - 2024: 30 years of: Stoner Witch.

An obscene tone.

Too loud for a major-label ...THE MELVINS hit again in ravaged 1994. Following August's experimental Prick side-project CD, the trio rocked back to the usual dirt and grind ...in a now stoner-friendly scene.

Apocalypse is here, as displayed by "Skweetis", right into the more organized chaos of "Queen" and the slick rocka-rolla of "Revolve". Deeper rock research is presented on the 70s vibed "Goose Freight Train" and "At The Stake". Acidrock fully corrodes with "June Bug" and the hard-picking of "Sweet Willy Rollbar".

After 1993's Houdini trick CD, THE MELVINS shouted more doomy-riff and decibel-defying downtuning. The boys would crush again with 1996's Stag CD.

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Revolve = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvmFjOFJjeg
Stoner Witch = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx3DlvS71b4&list=OLAK5uy_nCy4MbVRfrS_V_LbVIYYtiF2M4-xXNBeA
Interview in Slovenia in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWB2zgvgGyY
Live in Essen in 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIORysZwS90