UMUR "The Bride Screamed Murder" is the 18th full-length studio album by US rock/metal act Melvins. The album was released in June 2010 by Ipecac Recordings. It´s interesting to note that for the first time in the band´s now long career they cracked the Billboard 200 Pop Charts (at #200) with "The Bride Screamed Murder".

...and it´s not because the music on the album is especially commercially oriented. At times it´s actually quite experimental like the opening track "The Water Glass" were the band experiments heavily with a capella vocal sections, call- and respons type vocals and chants. The track is very percussive too, fully taking advantage of the two drummers in the band. Opening the album with a track like that requires the balls of an elephant but Melvins easily fits that description. The basis in the music is somewhere between alternative rock/metal (with an occasional punked edge like in "Inhumanity and Death") and sludge metal but this is a band that likes to play with conventions so don´t put too much into the genre tags. It wouldn´t do the music justice. Just rest assured that if you enjoy hard rocking sludgy riffing, cool and adventurous organic drumming, strong and varied vocals and a suiting powerful and organic production "The Bride Screamed Murder" is probably something you´ll be able to appreciate. The wacky humour aspect of the band´s music is a nice feature too and should be mentioned as a strength too. Melvins are not a band that take themselves too seriously and that´s sometimes greatly deliberating.

There are nine tracks on the album. The first seven are original compositions while track number eight is a cover of "My Generation" by The Who in a twisted and experimental version and track number nine titled "P.G. x 3" is an even more twisted and experimental version of a traditional. Both tracks are greatly entertaining and performed with conviction. The original compositions are also high quality material to these ears. Even though there are vers/chorus structures in most tracks there are always twists to keep things exiting and adventurous. The many percussive sections where the two drummers interact with each other are integrated well in the tracks and don´t feel out of place. Most tracks could be mentioned as highligths but I´ll mention "I'll Finish You Off" as the highlight for me.

"The Bride Screamed Murder" spells quality all the way through. Excellent musicianship, great organic production and very entertaining material. Let´s just say I´m pretty fond of this album and A 4 star rating is deserved.