Melvins-lite – Freak Puke

Demonic lead vocals and ear-shattering violins high in the mix make their Satanic presence felt, and all manner of bells, whistles and circuit-bent frequencies skip around as the torturous no wave tributes butcher on. There are some truly unique uses of effects, but in the context of their intimidating catalogue Freak Puke (the sound of Buzzo and Dale Crover joined by Mr Bungle alum Trevor Dunn) is ever-so-slightly quite possibly a wee bit of a dud (dare it be spoken).

 

Leon vs The Revolution is the only track close to typifying the quality muscular proto-sludge that the talented Melvins are capable of (screwed up chants and snarls intact). Aside from the aforementioned and a cosmic turn on the ten-minute closer, the patchy track-list hops from slow synth murder vibes to discordant guitar duels with very little cohesion. The title track's kitchen-sink percussion and ass-fisting guitar worship sums up what we have here.