Gods of Thunder

In a world of pop fads with ever-diminishing shelf lives, it’s something of a comfort to know that for The Melvins, the song resolutely remains the same. For 20 years now, the group has been regularly churning out music that’s as relentlessly punishing as it is strangely hypnotic, and the band’s latest, ASenile Animal, is no exception. In a world of pop fads with ever-diminishing shelf lives, it’s something of a comfort to know that for The Melvins, the song resolutely remains the same. For 20 years now, the group has been regularly churning out music that’s as relentlessly punishing as it is strangely hypnotic, and the band’s latest, ASenile Animal, is no exception. The core duo of singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover, along with new recruits from Big Business Jared Warren (bass) and Coady Willis (doubling up on drums), get the ball rolling with the abrasive “The Talking Horse.” Osborne delivers the lyrics in the manner of someone who has never been anything but the bearer of bad tidings—and takes to the role with unabashed glee. Given that half the songs adhere to traditional pop song length (two-and-a-half minutes), it’s easier to detect the melodies lurking underneath. And with a glossier production, it’s easy to imagine the dreamy “Civilized Worm” becoming, dare I say it, radio-friendly. But such a move would eviscerate the very heart and soul of the group—it’s their staunch individualism that has made them a force (still) to be reckoned with.