Bad Mood Rising
Melvins · 2022
41 min · 6 tracks · alternative rock
Heavy and dissonant textures intermingle with a dark sense of humor, creating a uniquely unsettling listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Mister Dog Is Totally Right Start here — This sprawling track showcases the band's ability to blend chaotic instrumentation with off-kilter melodies, embodying the experimental spirit of the album.
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My Discomfort Is Radiant — The song features a hauntingly melodic chorus that contrasts with its abrasive verses, illustrating the band's dynamic range and lyrical depth.
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It Won't or It Might — With its shifting rhythms and layered vocals, this track exemplifies the Melvins' knack for crafting unpredictable yet engaging compositions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's heavy textures and dark humor create a unique sound that stands out within its genre.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a heavy, distorted guitar riff that sets a dissonant tone for the album.
- Each song features abrupt tempo changes, often shifting from slow, sludgy sections to faster, chaotic bursts.
- The lyrics are delivered in a deadpan style, enhancing the dark humor present in the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- chaotic moments of intensity
- immersive deep listening experience
- unexpected twists and turns
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward song structures
- seek immediate gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows the Melvins' continued relevance and vitality in their fourth decade.
- Themes
- chaotic introspection· disorienting soundscapes· heavy existential weight
- Moods
- Dark
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2022, Bad Mood Rising is the Melvins' 26th studio album, following their 2020 release, Working With God. At this stage in their career, the band continues to experiment with the heavy and avant-garde sounds that have defined their decades-long musical journey.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Big Business· The Jesus Lizard· Torche
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Never Say You're Sorry
The narrative shifts from self-reflective musings to an accusatory tone directed at someone else, creating tension throughout the song.
This shift not only alters the emotional landscape of the track but also highlights the complexity of interpersonal relationships explored in the lyrics.
Tracklist
- 1 Mister Dog Is Totally Right Start here 14:12
- 2 Never Say You're Sorry 5:28
- 3 My Discomfort Is Radiant 4:55
- 4 It Won't or It Might 8:32
- 5 Hammering 5:37
- 6 The Receiver and the Empire State 2:56
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Take as Needed for Pain
Eyehategod
Shares heavy, sludgy riffs and chaotic introspection with disorienting soundscapes.
Liar
The Jesus Lizard
Combines noise rock chaos and experimental structures that resonate with heavy existential themes.
Wakin on a Pretty Daze
Kurt Vile
Offers a blend of introspective lyrics and layered textures that evoke a similar chaotic ambiance.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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