Melvins & Void Manes have made a record that sounds nothing like the Melvins ever sounded before. Throbbing Jazz Gristle Funk Hits is the first all-electronic album by the band, a tribute to Throbbing Gristle that trades guitars for synths, distortion for static, and slow doom for fast funk. It is a cover record dressed as an original, with Melvins songs sitting beside songs by Throbbing Gristle and other acts, joined by Void Manes, the electronic duo behind the project. The result is a record that asks you to sit still and let the noise settle over you.
Opening With Adrenaline
The album starts with “Adrenaline,” a track that sets the tone immediately. It is a slow, creeping build of synth lines and a steady pulse, the kind of song that rewards patience. It does not rush anywhere, and that patience is the whole point. The track earns its time.
“Eye Be Emm” follows, a shorter, more direct piece that shows off the band’s sense of rhythm. It is the kind of song that could have been a throwaway on a lesser record, but here it feels essential — a small, precise burst of energy that clears the air after the opener.
Zyklon B Zombie Through Semi Annual Report
“Zyklon B Zombie” is where the record starts to find its footing. It is a driving, repetitive track that builds on a single riff, and it works because the repetition never drags. The song holds together with discipline.
“Semi Annual Report” is the shortest track on the record, a quick burst that does not waste a second. It is a minor entry, but it moves the record along without losing momentum.
Sic Sick 60’s and the Middle Stretch
“Sic Sick 60’s” is a brief detour into a lighter, almost playful mood. It is a short, easy listen, one of the few tracks here that feels relaxed rather than heavy. It is a pleasant change of pace, even if it does not reach the heights of the surrounding tracks.
“Hot on the Heels of Love” is the longest stretch of the middle section. It is a slow, hypnotic piece that builds on a single synth line, and it works because the build never stops. The track earns its length through patient construction rather than flash.
“31 Jazz Funk Flavors” is the record’s most explicit nod to its title. It is a loose, improvised-sounding jam that leans into the jazz-funk side of the equation. It is fun, but it is also the most indulgent track on the record — a moment where the band lets the idea of the record take over the song.
Discipline and the Back Half
“Discipline” is the longest track on the record, and it is the one that defines the album’s ambitions. It is a slow, layered piece that builds through multiple movements, each one adding texture until the whole thing coheres. It is the best example of the band working within the constraints of the electronic format while still sounding like the Melvins.
“Maggot Life” is a short, sharp burst of noise. It is a track that rewards attention, packing a lot into a short space.
“Hamburger Lady” is the shortest track on the record, a fragment that feels like a sketch rather than a finished song. It is a curious entry, one that sits awkwardly between the more substantial pieces around it.
“A88A” is a mid-tempo piece that holds the record together before the closer. It is a solid, unremarkable track that does not stand out, but it does not need to.
“Discipline 23” closes the record on a note of restraint. It is a short, calm piece that brings the record to a close without a fuss.
The Record’s Weak Spots
Not everything lands. “Sic Sick 60’s” and “31 Jazz Funk Flavors” are the tracks that feel like filler, moments where the record leans on mood rather than substance. They are pleasant enough, but they do not hold the same weight as the rest of the album.
The record’s weakest moments are the ones that lean too heavily on mood over structure. “31 Jazz Funk Flavors” in particular feels like a jam that lost its purpose somewhere between the studio and the track list.
What Works
The tracks that work are the ones that commit fully to the electronic format. “Adrenaline,” “Eye Be Emm,” “Zyklon B Zombie,” “Discipline,” “Maggot Life,” and “Hamburger Lady” all hold together because they trust the synth sound rather than fighting against it. These are the tracks that justify the experiment.
The record’s best moments are the ones where the band stops trying to sound like a rock band and starts sounding like an electronic one. “Discipline” is the clearest example of that shift, a track that builds slowly and patiently through layer after layer of sound.
The Verdict
Throbbing Jazz Gristle Funk Hits is a bold record that mostly delivers on its promise. It is a record that rewards patience and punishes skimming. The best tracks are essential, the worst are minor irritants, and the whole package holds together as a genuine tribute to Throbbing Gristle that manages to sound like the Melvins even when it sounds nothing like them.
The record is not perfect, but it is ambitious and mostly successful. It is a record that asks for attention and gives back something worth hearing.
Key Facts
- Artist: Melvins & Void Manes
- Album: Throbbing Jazz Gristle Funk Hits
- Release: 2023
- Tracks: 12
- Total running time: 41 minutes
- Best tracks: “Adrenaline,” “Eye Be Emm,” “Zyklon B Zombie,” “Discipline,” “Maggot Life,” “Hamburger Lady”
- Worst tracks: “Sic Sick 60’s,” “31 Jazz Funk Flavors,” “A88A”
- Adrenaline4:51
- Eye Be Emm3:30
- Zyklon B Zombie3:38
- Semi Annual Report3:13
- Sic Sick 60’s2:33
- Hot on the Heels of Love3:56
- 31 Jazz Funk Flavors3:30
- Discipline6:05
- Maggot Life3:13
- Hamburger Lady1:04
- A88A2:30
- Discipline 233:00
