Just as Buzz stated, Ipecac are re-releasing last years collaboration with Napalm. This time with new Mackie cover art and two previously unreleased songs that didn't feature on the original version. 38 minute album.
3:18 1. Tossing Coins Into The Fountain Of Fuck
9:22 2. Some Kind Of Antichrist
2:03 3. Awful Handwriting
3:52 4. Nine Days Of Rain
5:21 5. Rip The God
4:31 6. Stealing Horses
4:10 7. Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy
6:04 8. Death Hour
10th April according to an Ipecac ad in the new issue of Wire. Yay!
IMO this new cover art is terrible. Easily the worst Mackie has ever done.
https://melvinsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/savage-imperial-death-march
Quote from: /////// on February 11, 2026, 05:04:18 AMIMO this new cover art is terrible. Easily the worst Mackie has ever done.
:lol:
Quote from: /////// on February 11, 2026, 05:04:18 AMIMO this new cover art is terrible. Easily the worst Mackie has ever done.
(https://d1rgjmn2wmqeif.cloudfront.net/r/g/568923.jpg)
For some reason, I prefer it to the Thunderball cover which is my least favorite of all time. This one has Bride Screamed Murder vibes
Quote from: the bloat on February 11, 2026, 09:33:05 AMFor some reason, I prefer it to the Thunderball cover which is my least favorite of all time. This one has Bride Screamed Murder vibes
Personally I really liked Thunderball. Generally I think most of Mackie's covers are good. Especially the recent ones. They are pretty well balanced and composed - everything is usually fairly harmonious. On the other hand this one looks very slapdash, pieced together and not in a good way. It's not balanced at all and the difference is jarring. It looks like a cover a fan would make trying to imitate Mackie but doing a real poor job of it. Also the colours used look horrendous together. I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to own this record. It's a real eyesore cover for me.
Anybody recognize the face? The first thought I had was Imelda Marcos, but that's probably not it.
Two new songs! (Perhaps-- you never know-- could just be "Fuck Around" in reverse with guitar feedback on top.)
Quote from: vince furnier on February 11, 2026, 05:41:37 AMQuote from: /////// on February 11, 2026, 05:04:18 AMIMO this new cover art is terrible. Easily the worst Mackie has ever done.
:lol:
That's actually a big compliment coming from you Ian.
did they change song titles?
I think the song titles are the same, they just added 'Awful Handwriting' and 'Comparison is the thief of joy' (new songs) to the new release.
The album art looks to be inspired by the art of Johnathon Reiner? His 'Totem 4 – Astrea' looks like a mashup of the old Ozma+Bullhead covers.
(https://printclublondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JOHNATHAN-REINER-TOTEM-4-ASTREA2-576x800.jpg)
Managed to snag one of the "Neon Choral" Revolver versions which is a delightful colour choice :lol:
I honestly still just can't believe the album cover. It's fucking horrendous. I know there are some I like more than others but I never thought I would consider one to be THIS bad! It's shocking to me. Embarrassing for the band. No joke, it might actually be one of the worst album covers I've ever seen.
Agreed on the cover. Lazy, and just plain bad. :merde: So we get 2 new songs out of this release. I'll settle for the CD, the cheapest way possible, even if it means I wait and get it 2nd hand used. The AmRep CD was just right in song order/flow/total time. These 2 tracks better not be filler material. Definitely no need for the vinyl, got an AmRep factory edition.
Quote from: rimb on February 11, 2026, 04:43:58 PMManaged to snag one of the "Neon Choral" Revolver versions which is a delightful colour choice :lol:
I might have been one of the last to grab this variant. Sold out now!
Quote from: /////// on February 11, 2026, 05:12:18 PMI honestly still just can't believe the album cover. It's fucking horrendous. I know there are some I like more than others but I never thought I would consider one to be THIS bad! It's shocking to me. Embarrassing for the band. No joke, it might actually be one of the worst album covers I've ever seen.
I thought you just throw all your CD liners and artwork into the trash anyway?
Since the album first came out on AmRep, I've noticed it's garnered a fair bit interest from news outlets and the more general, non-Melvins fan music enthusiast. Significantly more so than the usual Melvins record would. I guess this is all down to the Napalm Death inclusion. So in a way I'm not too surprised that Ipecac were eager to put it out on their label. For myself though, I don't feel like this release was all that great. Rip The God is a fine song of course. Easily my favourite from the lot. It sounds like a very typical Buzz written track that could have been on any of the albums since (A)SA. But some of the rest of the record I find a bit of a chore to listen to. Which is pretty damning for something that is 32 minutes! So I'm hoping the two newer tracks offer up something that improves my overall opinion of the record. Awful Handwriting in title alone sounds like a total Buzz song, the other so Napalm Death it's obvious. It'll be good to have this thing more readily available, but deep down I was hoping the Void Manes Throbbing Gristle record would get the Ipecac treatment more than this.
I was lazy today. I had both the black and the limited to 600 blue variants in my cart earlier today, but I didn't hit the purchase button until tonight, and the blue one was already sold out. Oh well. I'm thinking there will be a special edition for record store day.
Quote from: Dumpster D on February 11, 2026, 06:11:29 PMQuote from: /////// on February 11, 2026, 05:12:18 PMI honestly still just can't believe the album cover. It's fucking horrendous. I know there are some I like more than others but I never thought I would consider one to be THIS bad! It's shocking to me. Embarrassing for the band. No joke, it might actually be one of the worst album covers I've ever seen.
I thought you just throw all your CD liners and artwork into the trash anyway?
:D
Quote from: bUTTHOLEmAN on February 11, 2026, 04:35:23 PMI think the song titles are the same, they just added 'Awful Handwriting' and 'Comparison is the thief of joy' (new songs) to the new release.
interesting, i should buy it then. Hope new songs are proper solid songs instead of fillers! i don't know about the cover, i mean it's just weird, it's melvins :)
The pre-order of this Ipecac reissue is selling like hot cakes currently #3 on Bandcamp's best selling/all categories chart.
Arrives April 10, 2026.
https://melvinsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/savage-imperial-death-march
It's the Army of God damn Napalm death Posers out there buying it out...This thing will be in demand for the rest of time and space.
It works, and it's a goldmine.
The names are hefty...I mean NAPALM DEATH, and MELVINS are arguably two of the greatest band names ever possible.
Can we Just lock this topic down and wait until hell freezes over to get a physical copy or what?
PS. The artwork is cool.
I'm coming a round (a tiny bit) on the cover art. I'm getting "used" to it but I still think it's a shocker. I'm a bit on the wall whether I'll actually buy this one. But that's not down to the artwork. I just don't find it that compelling of a record. Hopefully the 2 new songs bump it up a bit quality wise.
Who did the artwork? It doesn't strike me as a Mackie.
Edit: Ooop. It is a Mackie-O :P
I was trying to figure out, who is the person in the original photo? If there is one? A reverse image gave me nothing. Is it screens, digital, mixed media or AI? Sincerely curious here.
Computer? Combine Theda Bara, Princess Ozma, Sheeva, and Cleopatra. Oh, and by the way... don't forget to Hail Satan !!!
Quote from: JUDY on February 18, 2026, 03:51:59 AMWho did the artwork? It doesn't strike me as a Mackie.
Edit: Ooop. It is a Mackie-O :P
I was trying to figure out, who is the person in the original photo? If there is one? A reverse image gave me nothing. Is it screens, digital, mixed media or AI? Sincerely curious here.
Computer? Combine Theda Bara, Princess Ozma, Sheeva, and Cleopatra. Oh, and by the way... don't forget to Hail Satan !!!
At first, after having the AmRep CD/LP for months, I was like "this new artwork sucks, blahh". But, this is totally Mackie, and I sort of get it after staring at it - "...to see if I still liked it... I do think it's good!"
My guess is it's some stock photo from way back when that Mackie/Buzz liked and saved to use on a future project, as they've done on the letter press LPs.
QuoteBut, this is totally Mackie, and I sort of get it after staring at it - "...to see if I still liked it... I do think it's good!"
Oh, I totally agree, and thought the same thing. I guess it just took a minute to register...
I do like it! :D
Hmmm...I bet she's got a pile of old-timey antique store photos. Maybe it's someone's long lost forgotten gramma? It just struck me as a familiar face for some reason. I'd love to ask her about the process. To me, it looks like a mixed-medium photo + collage + stamps with a mayyybbbeee probable digital polish :) But obviously that's just a guess.
Quote from: bUTTHOLEmAN on February 11, 2026, 04:35:23 PMThe album art looks to be inspired by the art of Johnathon Reiner? His 'Totem 4 – Astrea' looks like a mashup of the old Ozma+Bullhead covers.
(https://printclublondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JOHNATHAN-REINER-TOTEM-4-ASTREA2-576x800.jpg)
8)
Super Princess Ozma vibes
I didn't even see or notice the commentary on page 1 until now
: silly doozy face palm : or I just failed to register it, cuz me brain hertz.
The crown has a bullhead cornucopia thing going on there.
I would imagine most of us have already heard this but for anyone who hasn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkunWV4jbc
dig
Is it mixed or mastered any differently?
Barney's vox on that one sound pretty F'ing sick.
Quote from: amazonAMAZON on March 11, 2026, 02:21:10 PMIs it mixed or mastered any differently?
I haven't spun the AmRep vinyl in a while and I'm only listening to this on my phone, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't sound different. Maybe I'll do a side by side tonight
Got my CD yesterday, just getting around to listening to it, the 2 extra songs (Awful Handwriting & Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy) have an experimental & weird vibe. The liner notes mention "Special Guest :: Toshi Kasai - synth, keys, obscene noises" These 2 songs sound like they both include him
Ok so CD and vinyl editions have shipped out by now. Can anyone describe the 2 new songs? Are there vocals or is it just synth noodling?
Please baby Jesus no more Melvins synth noodling.
got my vinyl and just listened to it. I'm very glad this is a thing. quite happy with this release.
hi.
Blabbermouth review, they gave it 8/10.
Quote"Awful Handwriting", one of the two new songs that were added onto the existing material from last year's initial release, which saw the light of day during said tour, is goofy in the best way possible. There are spastic electronic bleeps that seem nonsensical, yet they're perfectly rhythmic.
https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/savage-imperial-death-march
these 2 extra songs are quite useless... too bad, they could really have fleshed up that release a little more but nope.
Quote from: armogi on April 10, 2026, 03:33:33 AMthese 2 extra songs are quite useless... too bad, they could really have fleshed up that release a little more but nope.
please describe them. synth noodling? pop punk posturing? Mike Love Kokomo era Beach Boys yarling?
Here's my recollections after the first listen:
The first one sounds like a synthesizer riff, playful but rocking, over a silly beat, with an ambience of reverbed noises and chopped up vocals (maybe from other songs on the EP) in an unintelligible delay pattern. Overall it's probably a better listen than "How -+-+-" but less enjoyable than "Laughing with Lucifer at Satan's Sideshow". It's brief and it doesn't really intrude. Despite the lighthearted nature, I don't feel it breaks the flow of the album.
The second one is more like a synth riff that could be on the b-side of a Suicide record, but played with this gothic cathedral ambience. A female vocalist sings distantly in a churchy/opera voice throughout. I also think I'll grow to love this. It disrupts the flow a bit more than the first one, but it adds a dimension to the album that makes it a bit more like the chaos of Hold It In or Basses Loaded.
To be clear, there are no guitars on these tracks. If there are drums, I don't remember them. The vocals don't evoke Melvins or Napalm, and I still classify them as instrumental interludes. But it could have been a lot worse.
On top of that, the album tracks sound... better? Maybe I just played it low volume since other people are home. But I suspect it might have gotten at least a new master.
after a few listens, i really like it. my favorite tracks are the 'weirder,' more experimental ones.
I'd bet that a full on noise project collaboration between Buzz and Shane would be pretty cool.
agreed. they should name it "combed hairs".
my copy got delivered at my parents house yesterday, wonder if my dad listened to it yet :P
Quote from: black stallion on April 17, 2026, 12:08:49 AMmy copy got delivered at my parents house yesterday, wonder if my dad listened to it yet :P
:lol:
look in the trash can. if you find it there then the answer is "yes".
artwork is sick! love the booklet
Quote from: glen on April 17, 2026, 11:56:44 AMQuote from: black stallion on April 17, 2026, 12:08:49 AMmy copy got delivered at my parents house yesterday, wonder if my dad listened to it yet :P
:lol:
look in the trash can. if you find it there then the answer is "yes".
:lol:
Quote from: amazonAMAZON on April 10, 2026, 12:19:08 PMTo be clear, there are no guitars on these tracks. If there are drums, I don't remember them.
Having listened to the album a few times now I can say with confidence there are drums on both tracks and they are worth it. The first one is a simple enough beat that it could have been one of those "Hey Dale, give me a beat so I can check the mic levels" type perormances. But Toshi has edited it into something worth listening to.
The second one ("Comparison Is the Thief of Joy") has a little more of a deliberate musical composition. While I still think there's no guitar, there is a synthesizer riff in the second half that sounds like it may have started life as a Buzz guitar riff. And the drums do something fun in quite a few places.
I'm really happy with this record. The length and variety are nicer in this configuration. The clarity of these two new pieces help contrast the grimy sound of stuff like "Stealing Horses" and "Tossing Coins".
There's this record store near me that posted a contest to win a test press signed by Buzz. You have to follow the page, tag a friend, consume and obey... and tell a story. Winner announced sometime tomorrow. All of the stories looked super lame so I thought I might have a chance if I try. hope I win. Anyway here's my story:
I have so many good memories of both bands. First of all Melvins are an absolute force of nature and no matter how many times I've seen them they always deliver. �One memorable show that always sticks out was back in the Detroit area where they played w Down and weedeater. � This was shortly after Buzz and Dale teamed up with the BigBiz, and the dueling drums have always been banger!!! �such a solid era! Anyway, it was Jimmy Bower's birthday. They brought him a cake and then he dropped the cake but we all still sang happy birthday !!!! � He joined Dale and Coady as the 3rd drummer for THE BIT. Omg !!!! � Then Kurt from down comes out wearing like what I think was a superhero cape and (maybe) did a cartwheel and Dixie for weedeater did a backflip or two. I guess he used to do that a lot before he shot his toe off. It was straight outta a cartoon kinda fun!
I was searching for a picture of that cake and I can't find it, but I remember it had my little pony on it and it said happy birthday Lil' Jimmy 💞🦄🎂🖤� this is one of many good stories. Melvins are absolute legend and nothing compares.
Napalm Death is always top on their game. I love how they come out all Brit and proper before they deliver menace upon us.