According to the Melvins’ Facebook page, members of that band plus Teri Gender Bender and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez have formed a new group called Crystal Fairy.
Not only has the band announced the release of a 7″ on October 10 via Amphetamine Reptile, they have also promised an LP to be released on February 24, 2017. The album will be released on Mike Patton’s Ipecac imprint. The 7″ will feature two songs, “Drugs on the Bus” and “Necklace of Divorce.”
Teri Gender Bender lends her distinct vocals to the new track “Drugs on the Bus”, which gets started with a grinding bass-led riff care of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Meanwhile, the members of Melvins take their traditional spots in the band, with Buzzo on the six-strings and Crover behind the drum kit. The result are anything but unexpected, full of chugging palm muted guitars with fuzzy distortion and Gender Bender adding a bit of glam with a falsetto wail that hearkens back to that of hard rock legend Robert Plant.
Check out “Drugs on the Bus” below:
The combination of these artists already makes perfect sense considering their musical style. Crover explained in a press release that the Melvins members used to perform Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” at the end of their sets with Gender Bender when they toured with Le Butcherettes, calling the song “almost always” the highlight of their show.
Gender Bender explained Rodriguez-Lopez’s involvement: “Omar caught up with us on the Melvins’ tour because he is an admirer. Through the travels, the Melvins and Omar connected as well. Sometimes, Omar and I would fantasize loudly of hopefully being able to form a power together. Before we knew it, we were writing music in the studio (both in El Paso and L.A.) and birthed a magical little gem that I am extremely proud to be a part of.”
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, who is in the midst of an incredible 12-album in six-months release schedule, emphasized that the members’ first priorities are with their main bands, and this is simply a fun side project: “…we intend to have as much fun as possible recording and touring with this special and unique project.”
Crystal Fairy (2/24/2017):
1. Chiseler
2. Drugs on the Bus
3. Necklace of Divorce
4. Moth Tongue
5. Crystal Fairy
6. Secret Agent Rat
7. Under Trouble
8. Bent Teeth
9. Posesión
10. Sweet Self
11. Vampire X-Mass
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