The Melvins are back with a new album and one step closer to their classic 1983 lineup as original drummer Mike Dillard has rejoined the band he left nearly 30 years ago. Tres Cabrones will be released on November 5 via Ipecac Recordings. Get psyched, because things are about to get trippy.
Currrent Melvins drummer Dale Crover replaced Dillard back in 1984 when Dillard left the band, and will be switching to bass duties for the new album. According to Buzz Osborne, this is as close as we're getting to the classic 1983 lineup of the founding members:
Tres Cabrones is as close as we're willing to get to The Melvins 1983 lineup," explained Osborne. "The best part is it's all new songs. I specifically wrote tunes that would be good for these guys to play and it worked out great.
This will be the first Melvins album to feature Dale Crover where he is not playing drums, as he will be switching to bass duties for the new album. The band is now only lacking original bassist Matt Lukin, who left the band to start the grunge band Mudhoney.
The Melvins were a slightly different band when Mike Dillard was a member. The band adopted their much heavier and slower tempo once Crover joined the band. Nonetheless, he seems stoked to be performing bass, saying:
After 30 years we release a record with the (almost) original lineup of the band," added Crover. "I've always felt that drummer Mike Dillard was one of us. It's great that he's still a piece of the puzzle! Plus, I get to see what it's like being the bass player in The Melvins! Tres Cabrones indeed!"
The Melvins are currently in the middle of their 30th-anniversary tour in their ongoing four-piece iteration featuring Jeff Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers and Honky replacing bassist Jared Warren, who is on paternity leave.
Hopefully I can blink my eyes, and it will be November already.
