What does Hold It In sound like?

A chaotic blend of punk energy and experimental sounds, radiating a playful yet dissonant atmosphere throughout its runtime. Rooted in alternative rock and experimental rock. Start with "Bride of Crankenstein".

Is Hold It In a good place to start with Melvins?

Yes, Hold It In is recommended as a starting point for new Melvins listeners. A chaotic blend of punk energy and experimental sounds, radiating a playful yet dissonant atmosphere throughout its runtime. Released on October 14, 2014, 'Hold It In' is the Melvins' 25th studio album and marks their continued evolution in sound after over three decades in the music industry. This album features a lineup that includes longtime collaborator Trevor Dunn, showcasing the band's willingness to experiment with their core sound while maintaining their signature heaviness.

Who is Hold It In for?

Hold It In works well if you're into dynamic journey with unpredictable peaks, chaotic energy for active listening and dark humor for playful moods.

How many songs are on Hold It In?

Hold It In has 12 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Released 12 years ago this October

Hold It In

Melvins · 2014

53 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock

A chaotic blend of punk energy and experimental sounds, radiating a playful yet dissonant atmosphere throughout its runtime.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Bride of Crankenstein Start here — The opening track sets an energetic tone with its relentless riffs and playful lyrics, embodying the album's chaotic spirit right from the start.
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Eyes on You — This track combines a catchy chorus with heavy instrumentation, perfectly illustrating the balance between accessibility and experimentation that characterizes the album.
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House of Gasoline — As the longest track, it showcases a sprawling narrative structure filled with dynamic shifts, reflecting the band’s willingness to push boundaries within a single piece.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

55 /100

Foothills

Higher than 45% of albums we've rated

The album showcases innovative structures and a unique sound but lacks some cohesion in its flow.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy track that features rapid tempo changes and layered guitar riffs, setting a chaotic tone.
Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, often shifting abruptly between different musical ideas within the same song.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

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

dynamic journey with unpredictable peaks
chaotic energy for active listening
dark humor for playful moods
short bursts of frenetic intensity

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward, predictable tracks
seek soothing, relaxed soundscapes

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Features a chaotic blend of punk and experimental sounds, showcasing a playful yet dissonant atmosphere.
Themes: chaotic humor· dark carnival atmosphere· sludge metal fusion
Career context: Released on October 14, 2014, 'Hold It In' is the Melvins' 25th studio album and marks their continued evolution in sound after over three decades in the music industry. This album features a lineup that includes longtime collaborator Trevor Dunn, showcasing the band's willingness to experiment with their core sound while maintaining their signature heaviness.
Stylistic neighbors: Big Business· The Jesus Lizard· Torche