The point was, if The Melvins had the songs then maybe when they had a major label record deal in the '90s they would have caught on. But they didn't, so they didn't.

The Melvins have songs. There are 17 tracks on this album actually.

Album Rating: 4.5

retrospectively thinking that importance matters based on acquiring a major record label when their music directly and indirectly became the lifesblood of mostly all sludgy punk and hardcore in all forms these days and lives on through Nirvana and friends who at this point would've had as much influence as Metallica if Metallica didn't lose themselves to themselves and their drama to skyrocket and brand the band around



they definitely caught on

When it comes to the more underground side of things, it's safe to say we wouldn't have gotten sludge if it weren't for the Melvins. I mean, is there another band that did the Black Sabbath meets Black Flag thing before the Melvins? Jimmy Bower from EHG told that his main influence was a trade tape which had Gluey Porch Treatments on one side and Trouble's debut on the other.

So was this album important? If all you care about are the metal-leaning bands with about a million Spotify hits per day, you probably won't find this important. If you're an underground-leaning type of bloke, this album definitely was important.

Album Rating: 3.5

i am definitely an underground-leaning type of bloke although maiden is crazy

Album Rating: 4.5

half-serious jests aside fuckin OBVIOUSLY METALLICA spread themselves further, be it far from me to be like "ACKSHUALLY CHECK..." to a guy who had an opinion on this being 'the most important' metal record of the 80s when there's serious points to raise out of it

"I mean, is there another band that did the Black Sabbath meets Black Flag thing before the Melvins?"
Black Flag.

It's not about acquiring a major record label. Everybody and their mom got a major record label thanks to Nirvana.

I'm referencing your argument about MTV's "Metallica bombardment" being the major factor in their success. However, you can't attribute Metallica's success to MTV and radio exposure, which The Melvins had too once they were on a major label. But they didn't catch on because their actual songs weren't all that good.

Metallica's evolution a decade into their existence is completely irrelevant to the conversation and I'm not sure why you keep bringing it up.

Album Rating: 4.5

I bring it up cuz their MTV exposures started since '86 and this came out the year later. by '92 when Melvins got on Atlantic thanks to Cobain even if they didn't need it, Metallica already was selling out everywhere (and some turned their back on them by then for 'selling out'). by '87 'tallica were far from underground, so the argument stands depending on what year of the '80s we're talking. you literally brought up labels, not me. about their songs being good or not is the irrelevancy here, clearly the average says otherwise.

Album Rating: 3.5

wrong relinquished



their debut was issued on EMI and Capitol Records. so not an underground release.

"But they didn't catch on because their actual songs weren't all that good."
OR maybe it's because Metallica sold out and became a 'pop metal' band. (A good one though)

Maybe it's because The Melvins, despite being grounded in Black Sabbath, were an extreme band not interested in making catchy ditties (like Sabbath). How else would you explain their progression towards Lysol?

^I'm trying to explain the reason for the lack of popularity, not influence

Okay, so let me be more clear.

Kill Em All was an underground 80s album because it was released on a small independent label. It survived and thrived with little to no commercial airplay and was almost exclusively a word of mouth success that led to Metallica getting a major label contract and eventually becoming the biggest metal band on the planet. It also influenced countless musicians and was instrumental in the popularisation of thrash in particular and influential to all metal that came after it.

Gluey Porch was also an 80s album released on a small independent label. It primarily influenced Nirvana and the sludge metal genre. Was it important? Definitely. But it wasn't the most important underground metal album of the 80s.

That is the fundamental crux of the argument.

Album Rating: 4.5

"Gluey Porch was also an 80s album released on a small independent label. It survived and thrived with little to no commercial airplay and was almost exclusively a word of mouth success that led to Melvins getting a major label contract and eventually becoming the biggest sludge metal band on the planet. It primarily influenced Nirvana, grunge, doom metal, indie rock, hardcore punk and the sludge metal genre. Was it important? Definitely. Was it the most important underground metal album of the 80s? That literally becomes a matter of opinion at that line."



fixed

Both were important, both were ripped off countless times.

/discussion

"almost exclusively a word of mouth success that led to Melvins getting a major label contract"

Yeah, no.

Album Rating: 4.5

my b



ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY A WORD OF COBAIN AND FRIENDS AND EXECS' MOUTH SUCCESS THAT LED THEM GET A CONTRACT FROM FUCKIN ATLATNTIC RECORDS

Closer, but still no. Labels were signing basically everyone in the hopes of finding the next Nirvana. Sure, Cobain word might have helped, but Nirvana's success helped more. The Melvins piggybacked on that shit like everyone else.

I mean, if Gluey Porch was so objectively great it wouldn't have taken 5 years and 3 more records for them to get signed.

Album Rating: 4.5

we're still talking about this record I hope



y'know, pre-nirvana?

Album Rating: 4.5

it took Metallica 3 years and 2 records to sign to Elektra what's your point with the labels