Melvins

By God, it actually worked.… Melvins’ latest lineup is that ultrarare example of a supergroup making good on its epic potential. After signing to Mike Patton’s Ipecac label in ’99, the Washington State avant-metal veterans issued a few scattershot discs. But following an ’05 falling-out with umpteenth bassist Kevin Rutmanis, frontman Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover enlisted four-stringer Jared Warren from burly hard-rock duo Big Business, and on a lark invited his bandmate, Coady Willis, into the mix, yielding a formidable double-drum quartet. The result, (A) Senile Animal, was simply one of the most bludgeoning—not to mention massively catchy and replayable—albums in the band’s vast discography.

Nude with Boots proves that this incarnation has staying power. No rehash of Animal’s lumbering menace, the disc explores both more-straightforward territory in the form of twisted yet classically rocking boogie tunes, and soundscape experiments reminiscent of classic Melvins mindfucks such as “Spread Eagle Beagle.” As powerful as Warren, Crover and Willis sound, this is Osborne’s record, a feast of ingenious riffs—try and parse the shifting time signatures of “Suicide in Progress”—and imperious vocal hooks, used to righteous effect on the title track and “Dog Island.” The aggregate effect should permanently cement his status as the American underground’s answer not only to Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi but also to his spiritual godfather (and near namesake), Ozzy himself.

Melvins play Music Hall of Williamsburg Aug 13 and Bowery Ballroom Aug 14.