In the early days of their career their dark, heavy, oppressively slow sound made them innovators of genres like sludge, grunge, and doom metal. The Melvins' music is influenced by Flipper, Black Flag's My War-era hardcore punk and Black Sabbath-style heavy metal, but their idiosyncratic approach, bizarre sense of humor, and experimentation make neat categorization difficult. Singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne (aka "King Buzzo") and drummer Dale Crover are constant members while several bass guitarists have cycled through the group. The Melvins usually performed as a trio until 2006 when two members of Big Business became permanent members of the band.
The band was named after a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano, Washington where Osborne was employed. Melvin was the most-hated fellow employee and the band felt it to be an appropriate name. Like SF noisenik predecessors Flipper, their love of slow tempos and sludgy sound were a strong influence on grunge music, especially Nirvana and many other bands from Seattle. Their protegés, however, tended to use more conventional musical structures with this sound.
Though the group has received mostly positive critical notice, Crover's drumming has been especially praised; Patrick Kennedy describes his work as "astonishing, powerful, and daring."
While never finding and most likely never even seeking great mainstream success, the Melvins maintain an impressive schedule of new albums and tours, including a collaboration with Fantômas in The Fantômas Melvins Big Band, two releases with former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, and in 2004 the Melvins collaborated with ambient artist Lustmord for Pigs of the Roman Empire. In appreciation of their devoted fans, the Melvins have released various collectables through the years that have included two-headed dolls, an eight-track tape, and a plastic fetus in a jar.
Fellow Aberdeen resident Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover) was a huge Melvins fan and helped them transport their equipment to a few shows. Cobain also auditioned to join the band on bass, but he didn't make it, reportedly because he was so nervous that he forgot all the songs. Cobain maintained his relation with the band. Later he produced and played on some songs (guitar on "Sky Pup", percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle") on the band's major label debut, Houdini. Dale Crover is also attributed as playing on the Nirvana debut album, Bleach, and on "Incesticide". In addition, Dave Grohl (ex-drummer for Nirvana) co-wrote and played drums for Isabella on Buzzo's Melvins solo album, King Buzzo.
Agonizer
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes the bad things are felt from a bad place within.
The thundering heart hole, a stone, the strawberry mark.
The clothes of the body,weeper mind sifter, galore.
The sideways eyes on the floor.
Matlock.
The lyrics to Melvins's song Agonizer seem to be describing a overwhelming sense of pain and discomfort. The opening line "Agonizer times ten your earther again" gives the impression that whatever caused the initial pain has returned in a more severe form. The second line, "Sometimes the bad things are felt from a bad place within" suggests that perhaps the pain is mental or emotional rather than physical. The imagery in the following lines is quite vivid and adds to the overall sense of unease. The "thundering heart hole" and "stone, the strawberry mark" both imply some sort of physical impairment or damage. The line "the clothes of the body, weeper mind sifter, galore" is particularly interesting as it could be interpreted a number of different ways. It could be suggesting that the pain is so intense it's affecting the way the person thinks or processes information. Alternatively, it could be suggesting that the person is intensely sensitive or empathetic and their emotions are causing them pain. The final line "Matlock" is a bit of a mystery. It could be referencing the character from the 80s TV show, suggesting that the person experiencing the pain feels like a detective trying to solve the mystery of their own suffering.
Overall, the lyrics to Agonizer seem to be describing a very intense and overwhelming experience of pain, whether physical or emotional. The vivid imagery used creates a sense of discomfort in the listener, almost like they are experiencing the pain themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Agonizer times ten your earther again.
Brutal pain overwhelms you with such intensity that it feels like an overwhelming force that takes over every part of your being.
Sometimes the bad things are felt from a bad place within.
Occasionally, negative experiences are a result of one's internal struggles, creating a domino effect of emotional and physical discomfort.
The thundering heart hole, a stone, the strawberry mark.
The heart beats uncontrollably, creating a feeling of emptiness and a deep wound, akin to a physical wound like a birthmark.
The clothes of the body,weeper mind sifter, galore.
Emotions hang heavy, like damp clothes soaked with rain. At the same time, they filter your rational thinking and pour out without control.
The sideways eyes on the floor.
As life hits you with struggles, sometimes the only thing you can do is drop your gaze and bear it.
Matlock.
The vocalist end the song by simply reciting the name of the American Legal drama, implying that seeking justice is a long and arduous journey, often ending in failure.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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