'Tarantula Heart' will arrive on April 19 via Ipecac Recordings, and clocks in at 39 minutes despite only having five tracks.
Arguably one of the band's most experimental releases to date, the project was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Melvins' collaborator Toshi Kasai, and features contributions from We Are The Asteroid guitarist Gary Chester and drummer Roy Mayorga of Ministry. Frontman Buzz Osborne commented:
"The way we approached 'Tarantula Heart' was different than any other Melvins' album. I had Dale and Roy Mayorga come in and play along with Steven and I to some riffs, then I took those sessions and figured out what parts would work and wrote new music to fit. This isn't a studio approach we've ever taken. Usually we have the songs written BEFORE we start recording!"
Drummer Dale Crover added: "The majority of 'Tarantula Heart' has dual drum parts. Roy is an amazing drummer. We would discuss what we would do pattern wise, then we'd just go for it. Improvising riffs and trading off on drum fills."
Osborne concluded: "When the rest of the band heard these songs I'd created from the sessions, they were blown away. These were fully developed new songs that they'd never heard before that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Presto!"
As a preview of the record, the band have shared Working The Ditch, which finds Chester and Mayorga supplementing the core trio's output, expanding their sound with a richer, more layered texture, anchored by heavy guitar riffs and dual drums. Head below to view the song's Jesse Nieminen-directed video.
The Melvins have Australian shows supporting Mr. Bungle scheduled for March, ahead of their first dates in Japan since 2019.
Their most recent album is 2022's 'Bad Moon Rising', while King Buzzo put out his second solo album, 'Gift of Sacrifice', in 2020.
'Tarantula Heart' tracklist:
1. Pain Equals Funny
2. Working The Ditch
3. She's Got Weird Arms
4. Allergic To Food
5. Smiler
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