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The 1987 punk classic Dave Grohl believes “sounds heavier” than any metal album in history
Dave Grohl has praised the Melvins’ 1987 punk record as sounding heavier than any metal album, crediting the band’s slow, sludgy sound and refusal to follow trends. His view highlights the Melvins’ influence on the emerging Seattle grunge scene and the ways punk and heavy metal fed into its sound.
Grohl recalled that the Melvins began as a fast hardcore punk band before slowing down to frustrate audiences who wanted them to play faster. The band formed in 1984 and helped shape the tastes of musicians including Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain; their early records, including *Ozma* and *Bullhead*, were favourites of Nirvana. Grohl described them in 2000 as a group that became a “sludgy Black Sabbath metal militia”.
In short
- Grohl says the Melvins’ 1987 punk record sounds heavier than any metal album.
- The band slowed its hardcore sound to defy audience expectations.
- Their early music helped shape the Seattle grunge scene.
Explained simply
The Melvins are an American band formed in 1984, when hardcore punk was known for its fast, forceful songs. They moved towards a slower, heavier sound, drawing on the weight of heavy metal while keeping punk’s independent spirit.
The band became an influence on Seattle musicians who helped develop grunge, including Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. Their records were among Nirvana’s favourites, and their mix of punk and metal helps explain the range of sounds that fed into grunge.