Melvins have announced a new album, Tarantula Heart, which will be out April 19 via Ipecac Recordings. They made it with regular collaborator Toshi Kasai, and the album features Roy Mayorga on a second drum kit, plus contributions from WE Are The Asteroid guitarist Gary Chester.
“The way we approached Tarantula Heart was different than any other Melvins’ album,” says the band’s Buzz Osborne. “I had Dale and Roy Mayorga come in and play along with Steven and I to some riffs, then I took those sessions and figured out what parts would work and wrote new music to fit. This isn’t a studio approach we’ve ever taken. Usually we have the songs written BEFORE we start recording!”
“The majority of Tarantula Heart has dual drum parts,” adds drummer Dale Crover. “Roy is an amazing drummer. We would discuss what we would do pattern wise, then we’d just go for it. Improvising riffs and trading off on drum fills.”
Adds bassist Steven McDonald (also of Redd Kross), “An album so magical, I helped create it without knowing it was happening. It’s definitely the weirdest album I’ve ever been a part of.”
The first single from the album is “Working the Ditch,” which comes with a video by Jesse Nieminen. You can watch that below.
Melvins have March tour dates in New Zealand, Australia and Japan, and those are listed below.
Tarantula Heart:
1. Pain Equals Funny
2. Working the Ditch
3. She’s Got Weird Arms
4. Allergic to Food
5. Smiler
Melvins – 2024 Tour Dates
March 3 Auckland, NZ Auckland Town Hall
March 6 Melbourne, AUS Festival Hall
March 7 Adelaide, AUS Hindley Street Music Hall
March 9 Sydney, AUS Hordern Pavilion
March 10 Brisbane, AUS Fortitude Music Hall
March 12 Perth, AUS Metro City
March 17 Osaka, JP Music Club Janus
March 19 Tokyo, JP Shibuya WWW X
March 20 Tokyo, JP Shibuya WWW X