Melvins and Boris share one record across two bands, and it plays like a bet on patience over flash. This is a split album built on slow, heavy riffs, and it asks listeners to sit through long stretches of low rumble before anything resolves. The two bands don’t sound alike, but they share a taste for extended passages and a willingness to let a riff breathe.
The Record’s Structure
The record is short, just two tracks, and it splits the work evenly between the two bands. The full track list:
| Track | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cry | Melvins | 19:46 |
| Funny Equals Pain | Boris | 18:51 |
That’s it. Two songs, each running nearly twenty minutes, and both bands get equal time. It’s a simple idea, and it’s carried out without wasted space.
Cry Opens the Record
Melvins start with “Cry,” a track that builds slowly from a quiet, repeating riff into a heavier, rising doom passage. The build takes its time, and the payoff comes late enough that some listeners will find the early stretch hard to hold.
The track earns its length in the second half, where the riff opens up and the band lets the song move into a fuller, more open arrangement. It’s the stronger of the two opening statements, and it sets a high bar for the rest of the record.
Funny Equals Pain Closes It Out
Boris close the record with “Funny Equals Pain,” a track that follows a similar path to the first: a slow, patient build that pays off later rather than sooner. The difference is in the texture. Boris favor a heavier, more layered sound than Melvins, and that shows throughout the track.
It’s a solid closer, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the opener. The build is steady, and the payoff arrives, but it feels like a familiar shape rather than a new one.
The Two Tracks Compared
The two bands approach the same kind of music from different angles. Both favor slow, heavy riffs and long builds, but the details set them apart.
| Band | Sound | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Melvins | Tighter, more direct riffing | Patient build, quick payoff |
| Boris | Heavier, more layered | Patient build, steady payoff |
What Works
The record’s best moments come when both bands stop worrying about novelty and simply let a riff do its work. The build-and-release structure, copied by both tracks, rewards patience rather than demanding it. When the payoff finally arrives, it lands with weight.
What Falls Short
The record is short on variety. Two bands, two tracks, one mood. That’s a deliberate choice, not a weakness, but it means there’s no room for surprise. Anyone expecting a wide range of sounds will come away disappointed.
Final Word
This is a strong, focused split record from two bands that know exactly what they’re doing. It doesn’t try to be everything, and it doesn’t need to. The two tracks are built on the same principles, and they reward patience in different ways.
“Cry” is the better of the two, and “Funny Equals Pain” closes the record on a steady, satisfying note. Together, they make a tight, rewarding listen for anyone who can sit with a slow build.
- Cry19:46
- Funny Equals Pain18:51
