In 2014, the Melvins released Hold It In, an album in which they brought two ringers into their lineup, Paul Leary and Jeff Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers. While the album was a solid and adventurous outing from the band, it didn't seem as if the Melvins were making full use of the Surfers' full legacy of sonic assault in those sessions. Clearly, the band wasn't about to make that same mistake again, and with Pinkus back on board for 2018's Pinkus Abortion Technician, the Melvins are taking the opportunity to remind us all that yes, there is a member of the Butthole Surfers in the room and we're taking advantage of it. In addition to nodding to the Butthole Surfers' 1987 effort Locust Abortion Technician in the title, here the Melvins cover two numbers from their back catalog, "Moving to Florida" (here in a variant version titled "Stop Moving to Florida") and "Graveyard." Pinkus also does his share of songwriting on this set, with writing credits on four original numbers. While the Melvins may be reveling in the opportunity to become America's leading Butthole Surfers tribute band here, Pinkus Abortion Technician also finds them performing another of their experiments in the configuration of a rock band, with Pinkus and Steve McDonald doubling up on bass, while as usual, King Buzzo and Dale Crover handle guitar and drums. The low end certainly rumbles with authority on this material, but for the most part, Pinkus Abortion Technician doesn't really blaze new stylistic trails for the Melvins despite the presence of two bassists. That said, the Melvins have been delivering consistently strong work in the 21st century, and Pinkus Abortion Technician shows they're still a powerful and imaginative band; they can still bring the heavy with muscle and élan, their more melodic moments (most notably McDonald's "Embrace the Rub") confirm they're more agile than they sometimes let on, and the downtuned cover of the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is funny and it works. Nostalgic Butthole Surfers fans will find plenty to like on Pinkus Abortion Technician, but they're hardly the only ones.
© Mark Deming /TiVo