Sugar Daddy Live

iTunes Review

The Melvins have always loved the sludge and were a major inspiration to the grunge scene of the ‘90s. Their deep love for Black Sabbath has colored much of their approach and King Buzzo’s guitar is still a weapon of molten metal. This live album features Buzzo, bassist Jared Warren and the dual drumming team of Dale Crover and Coady Willis. The material is primarily of later vintage with an emphasis on recent albums A Senile Animal and Nude With Boots. The earliest tune here, “Tipping the Lion,” is from 1986’s Stag. “Dies Iraea” is pure Sabbath. “Red Faced Granny” speeds up the tempo with a cataclysmic punch. “Civilized Worm” features brilliant firepower. The nine-minute “Eye Flys” is epic, a slow-building piece of tension. Their rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” might even get them an invite to a ballgame. All the performances here are as powerful as the studio versions with an occasional loose end giving them that ragged but right feel.