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.
They All Must Be Slaughtered
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The father, the son
They guide the lonely goat
The mind it takes to end a plea
He wants the best for all of us
The Melvins' song "They All Must Be Slaughtered" is a highly provocative and controversial piece of music that speaks to the band's unique brand of experimental and boundary-pushing rock. The song's primary lyric, "All of them, they must be slaughtered," is a stark and violent message that is intertwined with themes of religious extremism, human sacrifice, and the loss of individual autonomy.
The song opens with references to the father and the son, presumably alluding to the Holy Trinity of Christianity. This is followed by imagery of a "lonely goat" being guided by these religious figures, potentially symbolizing the sacrifice of innocence or a tendency to follow blindly. The reference to the "mind" that "takes to end a plea" suggests a willingness to commit violent acts in the name of a higher power or ideology.
Throughout the song, the idea of a sacrifice for the greater good is juxtaposed with the loss of individual autonomy and the inherent violence that comes with it. The repeated refrain of "they all must be slaughtered" is both shocking and thought-provoking, forcing listeners to confront uncomfortable truths about the ways in which we blindly follow authority and the potential for violence inherent in religious extremism.
Overall, "They All Must Be Slaughtered" is a powerful and haunting song that speaks to the Melvins' unique ability to explore the darker corners of the human experience through their music.
Line by Line Meaning
All of them, they must be slaughtered
Every single one of them deserves to be killed
The father, the son
Both the father and the son are included in the group of people that need to be slaughtered
They guide the lonely goat
The father and the son are leaders who are responsible for others
The mind it takes to end a plea
The determination required to carry out a final plea for mercy
He wants the best for all of us
The artist believes that killing everyone is the best solution for everyone's wellbeing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Redeemed Royalty
The Melvins are so diverse and that in such a wonderful way!!
Getting Comfy
this song is pure gold.....you listen to it and then suddenly stop doing anything...you just sit there and stare...
Randi Smith
kat's voice in this is perfect
Ahorseback44
one of their very best albums.
Josh Featherstone
I used to drive around late at night and play this on a cassette while I was ghost hunting. Those were some great times.
Sal Saccheri
one of their best albums
Kevin Jackson
listened to this album so many times on shrooms lol🍄🤤🙃😳😵
Carveila
This sounds like something Earth would come out with
ObeseChess
I always forget just how unsettling this song is.
loboisfuzzy
Amazing.