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.
Shevil
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hold in a heaven
Grab it hold of for lamb
You try to deafen me
And leave it for shavin
Man over for same, yeah
Ben stars in all my wars and more,
Gonna act in emergency
It's nice to pick a lame vein
And mold it for metal
Raw load is a gram
Budweiser eppen me
Accept us for favors
Why one does a hang child
Piston story yeah
And sorta sorry
Wind highs are livin
Will you all come calling
We sell are soul.
The lyrics to Melvins' song Shevil are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. It appears to be a commentary on the darker aspects of human nature and our tendency to exploit the weak and vulnerable. The opening lines "It's nice to take a narrow man and hold in a heaven" suggest the pleasure some people may find in dominating and controlling others. The reference to a lamb being "grabbed hold of for shaving" is a metaphor for the exploitation of innocent and defenseless creatures.
The next section of the lyrics seems to describe the use of drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of life. "Budweiser eppen me" could be interpreted as a nod to the numbing effects of alcohol, while "raw load is a gram" suggests drug use. The lyrics also touch on themes of regret and guilt, with lines like "sorta sorry" and "we sell our soul."
The final part of the song brings in the idea of redemption and seeking forgiveness. "Will you all come calling" could refer to seeking redemption from others, while "we sell our soul" suggests a willingness to do whatever it takes to make amends. Overall, the lyrics of Shevil are dark and unsettling, but they also suggest the possibility of redemption and change.
Line by Line Meaning
It's nice to take a narrow man
It's satisfying to overpower someone who is weak and easily dominated
And hold in a heaven
To feel in control and powerful
Grab it hold of for lamb
Take advantage of someone and use them for personal gain
You try to deafen me
You attempt to silence me and ignore what I have to say or feel
And leave it for shavin
After causing destruction, you move on and let someone else deal with the aftermath
Man over for same, yeah
The desire for power and control overrides everything else
Ben stars in all my wars and more,
Ben is always present during conflicts and is a key player in them
Gonna act in emergency
Will take action when there is a crisis or pressing situation
When he beats them down and haunt it all away
When Ben is victorious, he ensures that his opponents are left with a lasting, haunting memory of their defeat
It's nice to pick a lame vein
It's satisfying to exploit someone who is helpless and vulnerable
And mold it for metal
To transform someone into a more useful, obedient version of themselves
Raw load is a gram
There is power in raw, unfiltered aggression
Budweiser eppen me
The use of alcohol is a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult situations
Accept us for favors
We expect people to accommodate us in return for the favors we do for them
Why one does a hang child
Why harm someone who is powerless and blameless?
Piston story yeah
An incoherent tale or explanation
And sorta sorry
Feeling somewhat apologetic, but not entirely remorseful
Wind highs are livin
The feeling of being invincible and unstoppable
Will you all come calling
Will others seek our help and recognition?
We sell are soul.
We are willing to compromise our integrity and morality for power and control.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind