New releases last eight weeks: Indie/Alternative

Review: Welsh noise-rock royalty Mclusky make their decrepit return on their majorly anticipated fourth album The World Is Still Here & So Are We, marking their first full-length in over two decades, following on from 2004's The Difference Between Me & You Is That I'm Not On Fire. While the Cardiff legends have reformed for brief reunion runs in the past, this time they seriously mean it, revealing their first taste of new material in 19 years through their 2023 EP Unpopular Parts Of A Pig, with the title-track and 'The Digger You Deep' both announced to be featured on their (at the time) as-of-yet unannounced comeback record. Arriving courtesy of Ipecac Recordings, the outsider-rock label ran by vocal absurdist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Tomahawk, Mr. Bungle) and working in the past with the late, great Steve Albini, with the band even supporting for Shellac one fateful night in London's Scala, the chaotic noise-merchants haven't lost one tooth of their bite or snarky cynicism during their long respite, made abundantly clear on blistering lead single 'Way Of The Exploding Dickhead'.

Review: Melvins' back catalogue is so strong that they could make a living just re-releasing the hell out of it. But Melvins' Buzz Osborne is a true punk and has such an unrelenting passion for music that they will never stop. The good thing is that he is under no illusions that he's great... Melvins in 2025 sound absolutely incredible, like Black Sabbath good. The line-up for this album takes things back to 1983 as the band's original drummer Mike Dillard makes a relatively rare appearance. It's only the third album he's made with Buzz Osborne, but absolutely is it gold when it happens. Dillard famously played in a short-lived pre Nirvana group with Kurt Cobain called Fecal Matter and there's certainly parallels to Nirvana's frantic approach to drums on this album. In terms of the rest of the music it's tuneful in a heavy way and it's that balance between the two that was the cornerstone of grunge and you can hear how Melvins became such a prevalent influence, playing a role in shaping the sound of Nirvana, Soundgarden and countless others.

Review: The trailblazing godfather of grunge, Buzz Osborne, is the sole constant member of Melvins, but he's not burned his bridges. He's invited back original drummer Mike Dillard (with who he founded the band in 1983), along with Void Maines and Ni Maîtres, for the third Melvins 1983 album, the previous two being Tres Cabrones (2013) and Working With God (2021). They're on the form of their life with the new album; it is ferocious and exhilarating. A standout is the lead single 'Thunderball', which is a celebration of the drums. You can hear Dillard hitting his snare with unparalleled force and nailing countless fills. Meanwhile, Osborne's melodic and heavy guitar playing strikes a perfect balance. Vocally, Osborne has the highest level of conviction; he truly belies his years. And with Black Sabbath calling it a day very soon, we need Melvins 1983 more than ever.