Tomahawk

Stop if you’ve heard this one before…Four guys from a bunch of other bands walk into a studio and walk out with a record. That’s sort of the story of Tomahawk, but it’s not the whole shebang. The guys—guitarist Duane Denison [the Jesus Lizard, Unsemble, etc.], vocalist Mike Patton [Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, etc.], drummer John Stanier [Helmet, Battles, etc.], and bassist Trevor “field mouse” Dunn [Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, etc.]—show up just when we need them.

The first time was in 2001 with the self-titled Tomahawk. Following Mit Gas [2003] and Anonymous [2007], they dropped Oddfellows during 2013. It marked their best debut, reaching #9 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart. Not to mention, critics really got it! The A.V. Club gave it a grade of “A-,” Revolver Magazine rated it “4-out-of-5 stars,” and Pitchfork chimed in, “This lurid, thorny, profoundly weird music–just comes tearing out.” All kinds of touring and festivals followed before the members went back to their gazillion other gigs in 2014.

Then on their 20^th Anniversary, they finally returned with their fifth full-length album, Tonic Immobility, and now on their 25^th Anniversary, they have returned to the stage. Thawed out from their slumber, they sound like, well, Tomahawk…

Melvins

Formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington, the Melvins are one of modern music’s most influential bands. Founded by Buzz Osborne (vocals/guitar) with drummer Dale Crover joining a year later, the Melvins pioneered a genre-defying fusion of punk rock and heavy music. Over their four-decade career, they’ve released more than 30 original albums, countless live records, and numerous singles and rarities. Recent works include Tarantula Heart (2024), a dynamic showcase of the Melvins’ range​ where the songs were written after the recording, Bad Mood Rising (2022), an intense, sludge-infused exploration of their signature sound, and Five Legged Dog (2021), a 36-track acoustic retrospective that reimagines their heaviest songs alongside covers of favorite artists.

Known for their relentless creativity and collaborations with friends like Jello Biafra, Mudhoney, and Fantômas, the Melvins have circled the globe many times over, bringing their brash and genre-busting sounds to audiences worldwide.

Today’s Melvins lineup features Osborne, Crover, and Steven McDonald (Redd Kross), but the band’s history includes a variety of unique configurations. From the Osborne-Crover duo with Big Business’ Jared Warren and Coady Willis (Big Business) to a four-piece featuring the current line-up plus Butthole Surfers’ Jeff Pinkus, as well as Melvins Lite (with Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn), the Melvins have embraced evolution and their roots simultaneously. Sometimes, you might even get the Melvins opening for the Melvins.

Thunderball is a testament to the Melvins’ enduring legacy of innovation, defiance, and musical exploration.