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.
Black Bock
Melvins Lyrics
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His frozen eyes were far more than I
It's kind of nice to know the things that make me happy
Just realize keep the dog away from me
I found it don't matter when
It's not nice to feel alone inside
This little goat won't mind
All my fear are just vanishing
Will open heaven
Down in here all my dreams are filled
Good and bad they seem to be the same
And never lonely
If I just let this power in
It will work it will make me feel O.K.
Be sure forever
The song "Black Bock" by Melvins opens with the explicit description of the singer cutting the throat of a billy goat and watching it bleed out. The frozen eyes of the goat seem to fascinate him, and he derives some sort of twisted pleasure from the act. He admits that it makes him happy, but also has the self-awareness to acknowledge that it's not something that most people would find acceptable. The singer also expresses a desire to be left alone, suggesting that he is possibly struggling with feelings of isolation or depression.
Despite the disturbing imagery, there is an overall sense of catharsis in the song. The singer seems to find solace in the act of killing the goat and the release of blood. He believes that this will somehow open heaven for him and allow him to achieve a state of peace. There is also a sense of acceptance in the lyrics, particularly in the lines "good and bad they seem to be the same" and "never lonely" which suggest that the singer has come to terms with the darkness within himself and found a way to cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I cut the throat of the billy goat and let it bleed
I killed the goat and allowed it to bleed out
His frozen eyes were far more than I
The goat's dead eyes left a strong impression on me
It's kind of nice to know the things that make me happy
It's comforting to be aware of what brings me pleasure
Just realize keep the dog away from me
I need to be kept away from dogs
I found it don't matter when
I discovered it doesn't matter when something happens
It's not nice to feel alone inside
It's unpleasant to feel lonely internally
This little goat won't mind
The goat doesn't care about its own demise
All my fear are just vanishing
All of my fear is disappearing
And the blood will let me find a way
The blood will guide me to a solution
Will open heaven
It will bring about positive outcomes
Down in here all my dreams are filled
All of my desires are fulfilled within this location
Good and bad they seem to be the same
There is no distinction between good and bad
And never lonely
I am never alone
If I just let this power in
If I embrace this power
It will work it will make me feel O.K.
It will be successful in making me feel better
Be sure forever
Ensure that it lasts forever
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBORNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind