Melvins have spent decades proving that slow can mean fast. Bullhead, their 1991 album, is a deliberate, heavy record that trades the frantic energy of punk for a crawl that feels like a bulldozer pushing through mud. It is a metal record dressed in grunge clothes, and it announces the band as a force that would shape both genres in the years to follow.
Opening With Boris
The album opens with “Boris,” an eight-minute crawl that sets the tone immediately. The song builds slowly, layering distorted guitars over a steady drum pulse, and it does not rush to a chorus. Instead, it lets the tension accumulate until the payoff arrives late. This is the track that critics singled out, and it earns the attention.
Anaconda and Ligature
“Anaconda” is a short, sharp burst that follows the opener. It is the most direct rock song on the record, with a riff that feels almost poppy compared to what surrounds it. Then comes “Ligature,” a moody instrumental that drifts rather than moves. It is atmospheric but slight, a palate cleanser before the heavier cuts.
It’s Shoved
“It’s Shoved” picks the pace back up. The title is blunt, and the song matches it with a simple, repetitive groove that feels almost mocking in its refusal to elaborate. It is not a highlight, but it keeps the record moving without overstaying its welcome.
Zodiac and the Middle Stretch
“Zodiac” is the longest instrumental on the album, clocking in at over four minutes. It is dense and layered, with multiple guitar parts weaving over each other. It is a solid piece, though it does not stand out as much as the tracks around it.
If I Had an Exorcism
“If I Had an Exorcism” is a shorter, more aggressive cut. It is built on a relentless riff and a shouted vocal delivery, and it is the most immediate song here. It does not stay long, but it leaves a mark.
Your Blessened
“Your Blessened” is the second track critics singled out, and it is easy to hear why. It is a slow, grinding epic that builds from a quiet, brooding intro into a wall of noise. The production is raw, and the song feels like it could go on forever without losing its power. It is the high point of the record.
Cow
“Cow” closes the album on a lighter note, relatively speaking. It is a jaunty, almost playful closer that breaks the tension of everything before it. It is not a great song, but it ends the record on a smile rather than a grimace.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The record’s strengths are concentrated in its peaks. “Boris” and “Your Blessened” are the two tracks that justify the album’s existence. They are slow, heavy, and built on a sense of inevitability that few bands manage.
The weaker moments are the middle cuts:
- “Ligature” and “Zodiac” are competent but forgettable
- “Cow” feels like a footnote to a larger statement
The record is also uneven in focus: some songs lean heavily on repetition, while others stretch out in search of a payoff that never quite arrives.
The Verdict
Bullhead is a solid, if uneven, entry in the Melvins catalog. It is a record that rewards patience and punishes skimming. The best tracks are among the band’s finest work, and the worst are merely filler.
The album holds together as a statement of intent more than a collection of singles. It is a record about heaviness, and it succeeds at that goal even when individual tracks stumble.
6 of 10.
- Boris8:35
- Anaconda2:23
- Ligature3:49
- It’s Shoved2:36
- Zodiac4:14
- If I Had an Exorcism3:07
- Your Blessened5:39
- Cow4:31
