MELVINS — (A) Senile Animal (review)

MELVINS — (A) Senile Animal album cover Album · 2006 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"(A) Senile Animal" is the 16th full-length studio album by US alternative/sludge metal act Melvins. The album was released in October 2006 by Ipecac Recordings. Melvins have usually been known as a trio, but on "(A) Senile Animal", the two consistent members of Melvins, King Buzzo (guitar, vocals) and Dale Crover (drums, vocals) have joined forces with Jared Warren (bass guitar, vocals) and Coady Willis (drums, vocals) from Big Business to make Melvins a four-piece with two drummers.

Merging Big Business with Melvins proves to be a very wise move. The two new members provide a breath of fresh air to the trademark alternative/experimental/sludge metal sound of the Melvins. The inclusion of an extra drummer is a touch of genious and the percussive interaction between Dale Crover and Coady Willis is definitely one of the greatest assets on the album. Add to that the intense and raw vocal delivery and the heavy distorted bass work of Jared Warren and it´s hard to come up with anything negative about the new collaboration.

The 10 track, 41:24 minutes long album is a display in how to make a great entertaining full-length album. All tracks are umistakably the sound of the Melvins but there´s nice variation between the tracks. Some are pretty energetic and punked and some, like "Civilized Worm" and "A History of Bad Men", are heavy and sludgy. The latter features raw and intense lead vocals by Jared Warren (and of all the tracks is probably the closest to sounding like Big Business) while the former features a more laid back sedated vocal style. Most tracks feature "regular" vers/chorus structures but I assure you that there is nothing "regular" about the tracks on "(A) Senile Animal". There are twists and turns, sweet percussive details and adventurous ideas in spades. It´s all packed into a relatively accessible format though and that works well for the band.

The sound production is organic, detailed and powerful. High quality production to my ears.

"(A) Senile Animal" is the first in a row of strong album releases by the now four-piece Melvins. "(A) Senile Animal" to me is the epitome of wild, restless and carefree rock´n´roll. Even though Melvins occasionally take the tempo down to "mean badass heavy" or add some aggression, their music seems designed to make you happy. At least it´s happiness I feel after listening to this album, and that can´t be bad now can it? Try and wipe that smile of my face sucker. A 4 star rating and a recommendation are well deserved.
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