MELVINS — Basses Loaded (review)

MELVINS — Basses Loaded album cover Album · 2016 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Basses Loaded" is the 24th full-length studio album by US hard/heavy rock act Melvins. The album was released through Ipecac Recordings in June 2016. 9 out of the 12 tracks on the 45:49 minutes long album were previously released through Amphetamine Reptile Records on two limited edition EPs ("Beer Hippy (2015)" and "War Pussy (2016)") and in the case of "Captain Come Down" on the split release with Le Butcherettes ("Chaos as Usual (2015)"). The tracks are compiled from various recording sessions during the last decade and features the playing talents of no less than six different bassists (including drummer Dale Crover). Hence the album title.

"Basses Loaded" features 12 hard/heavy rock tracks in typical Melvins style. So we´re treated to both heavy and dark tracks (at times even sludge oriented) and lighter and typically more humourous rock´n´roll oriented material, and occasionally the avant garde/silly moment ("Shaving Cream", "Maybe I Am Amused", and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" are examples of that). That´s nothing new if you´re familiar with The Melvins though, but it´s safe to say the quality of their releases are a bit up and down, so it´s always with held back breath that you put on a new release by the band. Despite this more or less being a compilation of tracks from different recording sessions, it´s actually a relatively coherent and well floating release, and quality wise also in the better end of their output. At least compared to the last couple of albums.

The material featured on the album is generally well written and for the most part quite catchy. There are even a couple of gems hidden on the tracklist in the brilliant opening track "The Decay of Lying", "Beer Hippie", "War Pussy", "Phylis Dillard", and "Captain Come Down". As usual the lyrics are idiosyncratic, dealing with all sorts of odd subjects. The sound production is professional, powerful, and organic, and it´s not audible, the material wasn´t recorded during the same session. Upon conclusion "Basses Loaded" is probably Melvins most interesting and consistently high quality release since "The Bride Screamed Murder (2010)". There are a few tracks which aren´t as interesting as the best material on the album, but all in all I think a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
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