Bullhead Review
June 14, 2021
Bullhead is usually considered Melvin’s first truly great album. The Sludge Metal pioneers are relatively peerless in this era, as you could count the number of notable Sludge bands on one hand when this dropped. These circumstances made Melvins kings of the movement by default, and I think that’s why it doesn’t really appeal to me.
Bullhead is an album that is special by circumstance, because it had no competition and no comparison. It was influential and unique, but those things don’t matter to me when I’m listening to it. The music itself is very basic, monotonous, and droning. These qualities can be fine when done right (or if that is your taste) but I feel this album just doesn’t have enough going on to warrant much entertainment out of that. There aren’t any great riffs, no striking vocal performances, no rhythm grooves, its just a lot of repetitive heavy chords. It’s slow, but it’s certainly not doomy, because there’s no atmosphere and no strong mood aside from kind of anxious.
Unfortunately I have yet to find much enjoyment out of early Sludge, and this album was not the one to change my mind. Onward we go.
Bullhead is an album that is special by circumstance, because it had no competition and no comparison. It was influential and unique, but those things don’t matter to me when I’m listening to it. The music itself is very basic, monotonous, and droning. These qualities can be fine when done right (or if that is your taste) but I feel this album just doesn’t have enough going on to warrant much entertainment out of that. There aren’t any great riffs, no striking vocal performances, no rhythm grooves, its just a lot of repetitive heavy chords. It’s slow, but it’s certainly not doomy, because there’s no atmosphere and no strong mood aside from kind of anxious.
Unfortunately I have yet to find much enjoyment out of early Sludge, and this album was not the one to change my mind. Onward we go.
1 like
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Boris | 8:34 | 60 | 2 |
| 2. | Anaconda | 2:23 | 62.5 | 2 |
| 3. | Ligature | 3:49 | 60 | 2 |
| 4. | It's Shoved | 2:35 | 62.5 | 2 |
| 5. | Zodiac | 4:14 | 67.5 | 2 |
| 6. | If I Had An Exorcism | 3:07 | 60 | 2 |
| 7. | Your Blessened | 5:39 | 62.5 | 2 |
| 8. | Cow | 4:31 | 60 | 2 |
Line-up (members)
- Buzz Osbourne : vocals & guitar
- Lori Black (Lorax) : bass
- Dale Crover : drums
3 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Houdini Review (1993) | 60 | May 9, 2024 | 2 | ||
 | | ▶ Bullhead Review (1991) | 45 | Jun 14, 2021 | 1 | ||
 | | 45 | Jun 16, 2020 | 1 |
1
Houdini Review (1993)
Megametal 60/100May 9, 2024 Likes : 2
hudba na albume "Houdini" je občas schopná, aj keď sa nevyhne totálne slabým výstrelkom (ako napr. "Pearl Bomb", "Sky Pup", "Spread Eagle Beagle" - počúvať desať minút dookola trápne podobné búchanie je oničom), no najväčší problém u mňa je ako vždy strašne slabý kvázy spev Buzz Osbourne -ho. Naozaj je v tom netalentovaný a nedokázal to zlepšiť ani ... Read More
▶ Bullhead Review (1991)
SilentScream213 45/100Jun 14, 2021 Likes : 1
Bullhead is usually considered Melvin’s first truly great album. The Sludge Metal pioneers are relatively peerless in this era, as you could count the number of notable Sludge bands on one hand when this dropped. These circumstances made Melvins kings of the movement by default, and I think that’s why it doesn’t really appeal to me.
Bullhead is an album that is special...
SilentScream213 45/100Jun 16, 2020 Likes : 1
A milestone release, as there have been a couple very sludgy albums prior to this one (namely the B side of My War, Black Dust and Gore’s catalogue) but this is probably the first fully formed Sludge Metal album. It’s a disgustingly heavy, ploddingly aggressive mess, the kind that would have easily freaked people out back in the 80’s. Melvins basically take the aggression... Read More
