New Music – Aborted Techniques

The Melvins have lived on Matt’s Music Mine and appeared for their abrasive, but more warped sense of musicianship on their studio album, Houdini. It was a record that shifted some of the boundaries of music at the time, pushing them to become a household name when discussed over grunge and early adaptations of metal.

Their newest record, Pinkus Abortion Technicianis at most parts, slowed and more sluggish than previous releases. There is not much in the ugliness that made up Houdini, but more in the lumbering speed of a giant that was once holding a ferocious grasp on sound. The Melvins are still interesting and doing things that can be considered experimental with sound, but in this more modern age there is just not as much to be said for their newest work. It feels like (the) Melvins, it captures that same spirit that they had even back in the incredibly late 80’s to early 90’s, but the sound and style has an entirely different approach which touches more into the relaxed than aggressive.

With the third track “Don’t Forget To Breathe”, there is a sense of rumbling almost blues-style guitar and dual bass system that reflects off the percussion. There is a sense of this experimentation that grazes the track and works to form a more laid-back, head bopping anthem instead of the mosh pit inducing hits of their yesteryear. Pinkus Abortion Technician does not make strides to punish, but instead invite and does so in a more graceful stance, or as graceful as the Melvins can possibly be.

They open with “Stop Moving To Florida” which has more step and energy behind their sound and feels more open and sun-driven than some of the later installments. It is cheerful in the instrumentation with some vocalization that works to explain, “Stop, I don’t know the words. I think they’re wrong, Stop! It don’t matter jack, ‘casue no one here really knows this song.” There is an intermission and complete emotional shift around the midpoint of “Stop Moving To Florida” where the band feels as though it falls apart and adapts to this more hostile, almost directionless move with some abstract styling that follows behind.

Pinkus Abortion Technician works the best when the sound is being slowed and trying to break this mold. It shows through on the majority of Pinkus Abortion Technician as a less headstrong attack than its predecessors. But this gives hope into (the) Melvins as they work to shift their abusive style into something more approachable, less into genre boxes, and more into their own continuous flood.

Listen To Pinkus Abortion Technician Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/Amazon/iTunes