(the) Melvins - Tarantula Heart

[vince furnier]

i just remember in that vinyl guide podcast interview they talk about there being like 8 solos on that one song, 4 from buzz and 4 from gary, guess that may have been a joke maybe?

like Judas Priest? with a breakdown of who's playing which lead break or solo in the liner notes? 

[Colonel Cheese]

lol!
i just got excited to hear so many

[black stallion]

i just remember in that vinyl guide podcast interview they talk about there being like 8 solos on that one song, 4 from buzz and 4 from gary, guess that may have been a joke maybe?

like Judas Priest? with a breakdown of who's playing which lead break or solo in the liner notes? 

 

[))))((((]

I wouldn't say they are typical solos that one might imagine when you think "guitar solo". About the last half of the song is Buzz and Gary but not really trading off between each other. Just more of a soundscape of guitar.

[Colonel Cheese]

far out

[Bigval]

BM gave the album 9/10 and a tour with Mr.Bungle is set to be announced too.

This deep into their career, it's mind-blowing that the MELVINS are this good, and that they are arguably better than ever with "Tarantula Heart". That's impressive for a band that never stands in place. They're set to tour very soon alongside label mates MR. BUNGLE. Patton and his cohorts need to be on top of their game, because the maniacs in the MELVINS have yet again pushed the envelope right off the table.

https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/tarantula-heart

[amazonAMAZON]

Just got my blixt CD+LP shipment today. Looks great in the translucent green.

The LP is interesting. It comes with a stapled booklet that is the size of a seven inch record. It is the same booklet as inside the CD digipak, except it has four fewer panels (two full page spreads). These are both Mackie pieces with no verbiage that are nearly indistinguishable from the other album/booklet art but I figured I'd still call it out.

The art looks great. It's a pretty cohesive set of Mackie art, playful but with plenty of menace. Totally on brand with the last ten years of Melvins albums, but distinctive in its palette.

Haven't listened through yet as it's a full household and I'm a dad.

[the bloat]

With only a few days remaining until the official release, I'll share my take on the Melvins' latest album and the contents within. While I've only spent a few days with it, I've put Tarantula Heart through the paces on car stereo, home hi-fi and headphones, looping it over and over again.

With confidence, I can say this one stands alone in the Melvins' discography. It's as unique an offering as anything they've done and features some of the meanest riffs, nastiest tones and spaciest interludes laid to tape.

TH is a further exploration on the Melvins longer, more lumbering meditations found on Side A of Bad Mood Rising, however, this one has depth. Layers of lock step drums and heavy riffage bound in gauzy layers of noise. Upon repeated listens you'll begin to appreciate the textures as these are not merely tossed-off guitar experiments pasted on top of double drum tracks.

Pain Equals Funny has four parts. Patched together with disparate beats, each is its own beast. The first two parts are straight forward rockers, the third, a menacing guitar dirge and the fourth is built around a Buzzo riff seething with vitriol. Thumbs way up.

She's Got Weird Arms kicks off with a curdled guitar scale, played repeatedly until unfolding into Melvins pop, complete with Steven background vocals. It's a breather between the two dense songs that come before and after. It sounds different than any Melvins songs I've heard before. Maybe a moldy kin to Brass Cupcake?

Smiler is worth the price of admission. A classic Buzzo scorcher that sounds like a Maggot-era deep cut, complete with endless guitar noodling. It's a blast to listen to.

You've heard Working the Ditch and Allergic to Food by now. I gave them one listen each upon their release and haven't returned to them until I could play them alongside the other tracks. With each listen, I find new things to like and they make a lot more sense within the context of the album sequencing.

It's brain-pickling to think about how inventive this band continues to be this far into their career.

Just received my "puke green" vinyl yesterday. 

[Stonergrunge]

Does anybody know if the 12-page booklet is going to be on the CD edition as well?

[PepsiMike]

The LP is interesting. It comes with a stapled booklet that is the size of a seven inch record. It is the same booklet as inside the CD digipak, except it has four fewer panels (two full page spreads).

[Stonergrunge]

The LP is interesting. It comes with a stapled booklet that is the size of a seven inch record. It is the same booklet as inside the CD digipak, except it has four fewer panels (two full page spreads).

Do'h! My bad 

[black stallion]

With only a few days remaining until the official release, I'll share my take on the Melvins' latest album and the contents within. While I've only spent a few days with it, I've put Tarantula Heart through the paces on car stereo, home hi-fi and headphones, looping it over and over again.

With confidence, I can say this one stands alone in the Melvins' discography. It's as unique an offering as anything they've done and features some of the meanest riffs, nastiest tones and spaciest interludes laid to tape.

TH is a further exploration on the Melvins longer, more lumbering meditations found on Side A of Bad Mood Rising, however, this one has depth. Layers of lock step drums and heavy riffage bound in gauzy layers of noise. Upon repeated listens you'll begin to appreciate the textures as these are not merely tossed-off guitar experiments pasted on top of double drum tracks.

Pain Equals Funny has four parts. Patched together with disparate beats, each is its own beast. The first two parts are straight forward rockers, the third, a menacing guitar dirge and the fourth is built around Buzzo riff seething with vitriol. Thumbs way up.

She's Got Weird Arms kicks off with a curdled guitar scale, played repeatedly until unfolding into Melvins pop, complete with Steven background vocals. It's a breather between the two dense songs that come before and after. It sounds different than any Melvins songs I've heard before. Maybe a moldy kin to Brass Cupcake?

Smiler is worth the price of admission. A classic Buzzo scorcher that sounds like a Maggot-era deep cut, complete with endless guitar noodling. It's a blast to listen to.

You've heard Working the Ditch and Allergic to Food by now. I gave them one listen each upon their release and haven't returned to them until I could play them alongside the other tracks. With each listen, I find new things to like and they make a lot more sense within the context of the album sequencing.

It's brain-pickling to think about how inventive this band continues to be, this far into their career.

Just received my "puke green" vinyl yesterday. 

Great review, thanks

[))))((((]

After around a week of listening i think i'm going to give it an 8/10. That seems to be pretty much my standard score i give to all new Melvins albums. It doesn't deserve a 9 and it's not poor enough to be a 7. Somewhere on par with Bad Mood Rising.

[amazonAMAZON]

I agree it's on par with Bad Mood Rising. I love it. It's both familiar and novel, which is a hard balance to strike. "Pain Equals Funny" is best bang for your buck of course. But if you count that as four songs, then my favorite is still probably "Allergic to Food".

I'm really happy that it's not all just five endless grooves. "Smiler" in particular sounds tricky enough that the riff and the drums gel together in a very Melvins way.

I also did not get fatigue from this recording. I think the drums are well defined. Guitars weren't too harsh. In fact the harshest sound is Buzz's new wave sneer, which I love to hear from time to time.

[))))((((]

my favorite is still probably "Allergic to Food".

I'm slightly baffled how anyone could rate that the best. I think it's the worst song on the record. I really wish it wasn't on it. I feel somewhat similar too with She's Got Weird Arms. Both tracks bring down the quality of the record for me. Even if that only accounts for like 8 minutes of the whole!