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.
Horn Bearer
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smiling sky under
Under black leading
Leading God halfway
Halfway God under
Under sea soldier
Soldier lie losing
Losing law hiding
Finding strong cleaning
The lyrics to Melvins's song Horn Bearer seem to be quite cryptic and open to interpretation. However, it's possible to analyze the language and come up with some potential meanings. It's likely that the song is exploring themes of spirituality, power, and identity. The repeated phrases "God" and "under" suggest a sense of being subservient to a higher power or authority. However, there is also a sense of agency and responsibility suggested by the use of active verbs like "leading," "losing," and "finding."
One possible interpretation is that the song is exploring the idea of a person who has been chosen by a god or other divine force to lead others. This person is "halfway" between the divine and the earthly realms, and is tasked with cleaning up or rectifying some kind of mess or sin. However, the soldier mentioned in the middle of the song seems to be at odds with this mission, possibly due to being caught up in the "law" (which could refer to societal or religious rules) and hiding from something. The final line, "finding strong cleaning," could suggest that the singer is seeking to find their own strength and independence in order to carry out their divine mission.
Line by Line Meaning
Leading God hired
God has chosen someone to lead others in his name.
Smiling sky under
The sky looks happy and peaceful below this leader.
Under black leading
This leader takes control during dark times.
Leading God halfway
The leader is only partially following God's guidance.
Halfway God under
The leader is not fully committed to God's teachings and is inferior to the sky below them.
Under sea soldier
The leader commands an army that can function in any environment.
Soldier lie losing
The soldiers under the leader are being defeated and lying down.
Losing law hiding
The laws and principles that the leader once followed are being suppressed and hidden away.
Hiding me finding
The leader is trying to find their true self amidst the chaos and deception around them.
Finding strong cleaning
The leader is working to purify themselves and emerge stronger from the trials they have faced.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Buzz Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind