The basis for the Melvins' career has been the simple principle: "We don't give a fuck what anybody thinks". Indeed, Buzzo and company make music that is totally outside the confines of mainstream thinking, ranging from unholy sludge to soothing ambience. Pinpointing the Melvins style is an impossible task, for they shift genres with every song and album. Their style is downtuned, jagged riffs in complex signatures. Imagine a severely scratched up copy of "Symptom of the Universe" topped off with Buzz Osbourne's insane growls. The first four songs on Stoner Witch reveal the Melvins' more upbeat, thrashy side. Songs like "Roadbull" are nearly impossibly complex and fucked up, while "At the Stake" is abysmally slow and droning sludge. If you're looking for something more diverse and intelligent than the average band, pick this up.

Stoner Witch is one of several ESSENTIAL Melvins albums everyone should own. This is probably their most hesher-friendly record. From the quasi-Metallica-esque verses of "Revolve", to the stoner dirge of "At the Stake", Stoner Witch consistently captures the attention. Many songs are bizarre, experimental, and downright noisy. It's one of those albums that really doesn't have any "bad" songs. Challenging, yes. Fascinating, uh-huh... but none of them are what I would consider "throwaways". Many listeners will be turned off by the Melvins' non-linear take on rock, but I would advise everyone to give this album a try, and if it doesn't grab you by the cerebellum, try again.

When I first heard "Queen", I was crushed like a bug. The riffs were gigantic and self-assured, the drumming was heavier than a whale, but what impressed me most of all was the presence of King Buzzo. His snarling on the chorus is one of the most rock 'n' roll moments in history. What sets the Melvins is their sense of humor. You can't help feeling that some of the excessive bravado exhibited by King Buzzo is semi-parody, yet it is far more effective than it could ever be if it were meant entirely seriously. The lyrics are nearly always nonsensical and Buzz's voice can lurch from full-on metal titan to whispering nerd in a matter of seconds. Any casual rock listener will constantly be surprised by Stoner Witch on the first spin, maybe even pleasantly so. But for Melvins fans, it is truly essential, especially if you want to show your friends how much you hate pop music.