Before It Was Gluey It Was

Here’s a nice piece of history unearthed. The Melvins earliest recordings Mangled Demos From 1983 never before released are now available with first renditions of eventual classics and alternates of vintage tunes. The Melvins first official album was released in 1986 and simply titled 8 Songs. This material predates even that seminal release and features the band’s original lineup: brief member Mike Dillard on drums, subsequent Mudhoney bass player Matt Lukin and Buzz Osbourne on vocals and guitar.Here one can find the initial stab from Osbourne at crafting a unique sound. Unlike his later Black Sabbath influenced work, this album is loaded with straight-ahead 80s-style hardcore punk – see the chant chorus of “forgotten principles” in the song of the same name. Most tracks rock an unrelenting pace such as the fast picking contained in “I’m Dry.” Buzz’s riffs are already thick and distinct at this stage but his voice will go on to mature to a shriller, deeper sound in comparison to the nasal tone found here. Perfect examples of which are his delivery on the fantastic tracks “The Real You” and “Matt-Alec,” the latter song could stand up convincingly with any song from their recent catalog.

This gem of a release is also the argument for current drummer Dale Crover. “Set Me Straight” a track famously known from The Melvins major label debut Houdini shows its birthplace on Mangled Demos and although competent, Dillard’s high-hat laden approach doesn’t hold a candle to the force and precision Crover would bring to the song years later. Slightly garbled production and worn tape aside, this is the beginning of a rock and roll dynasty.