After so many albums, some terrible and some terribly genius, how much can The Melvins really have left in the tank? Surely the engine needs lubrication and the tires have burst by now. Tres Cabrones is well put together, but it has one major problem: I don’t know if you can really call this a new record! Nine of the songs previously appeared on vinyl before the album was released. I can’t decide if this proves The Melvins have run dry, although if you throw in the fact that their record before this was a cover album, which I rather enjoyed actually, or if they are either out of juice or out of cash.
The main appeal of Tres Cabrones is Dale Crover. Dale has been the band’s drummer for the last 29 years, but has moved over to bass to accommodate Dillard’s return in a classic-era line-up reunion. That’s great, that’s groovy, that’s…kind of pointless considering they didn’t really write any new material for this record and the new material they do perform are either traditional songs or covers. This pissed me off. Here I am waiting to hear some classic-era Melvins shit and I get jipped man! Sure, some of these are classic-era Melvins songs, but I have heard it! Give me something new, not just a selection re-recordings!
I love The Melvins, but is this even worth a review? It’s not even a B-sides or Rarities collection. It’s just sort of nothing. Sure, the songs sound great, they are written as well as The Melvins best material and the record flows very very well, but how can you call this a new record and hail it as a return to classic-era Melvins? If anything, that’s just confusing and it seems like a marketing ploy. Pissed me off man! I really enjoyed this record until I realized I ‘d heard most of these before.
If you’re a diehard fan, then you’ve most likely got a copy of these songs somewhere in your vast collection of Melvins records and don’t really need to buy Tres Cabrones; however, if you’re looking to delve yourself into the vast universe of Melvins madness, Tres Cabrones could be a good starting point for you. That being said, I would recommend Stoner Witch or Houdini, and then branching out from there.
I can hear what you’re saying, “Get over it Rob! Move on man! Let it GO!”
I know I sound like a jaded asshole, and I am. I just cannot see the point of the hype. Yes, it is a solid record with the right amount of Melvins craziness and solid riffing, but for what is built up to be such a big return, it would have been sweet to hear NEW MATERIAL!
Hopefully next record they’ll give us something new.. Hopefully hey?
Tres Cabrones gets 2.5 skulls from me, and mainly because they are The Melvins, and the songs rock…they get deducted a big chunk for simply rehashing old material.
By: Rob Ryles, Contributing Writer
