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SPIN.COM EXCLUSIVE: Melvins Premiere New Song!

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25 years into their career, one of rock’s heaviest bands are sweetening their sound.

The Melvins, who formed in rural Washington State in the early 1980s, are known as “The Godfathers of Grunge,” thanks to a dirge-y blend of Black Flag’s hardcore punk and Black Sabbath’s heavy metal. The sound was powerful enough to woo a teenage Kurt Cobain, who auditioned for the band on bass (thankfully, he flubbed).

On their 19th album, The Bride Screamed Murder (out June 1), the core duo of guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne (a.k.a. “King Buzzo”) and drummer Dale Crover have crafted their poppiest release yet, without sacrificing their trademark sound.

SPIN.com has the exclusive download of album track “Evil New War God” below!

SPIN’s review of the upcoming record calls it “a sludge-pop romp that mostly plays like a distortion-charred version of the Bay City Rollers or Sweet.” It also praises the Melvins’ “playful” double-drummer lineup, rounded out by Coady Willis of fellow Northwest sludge-rock band Big Business (Jared Warren, bassist for Big Business, also joined the Melvins in 2006).

The Melvins will kick off a 28-date summer tour with an album release show in San Diego on June 1, and will stop into Bonnaroo and cities nationwide before closing out the trek on July 9 in San Jose.

What do you think of the Melvins’ sweetened sound? Sound off in the comment section.

LISTEN: The Melvins, “Evil New War God”(DOWNLOAD MP3)

Melvins tour dates:
6/1, San Diego, CA (Casbah)
6/2, Tempe, AZ (The Clubhouse)
6/3, Albuquerque, NM (The Launchpad)
6/5, Austin, TX (Emo’s)
6/7, Houston, TX (Warehouse Live)
6/8, Baton Rouge, LA (Spanish Moon)
6/9, New Orleans, LA (One Eyed Jacks)
6/10, Birmingham, AL (Bottle Tree)
6/12, Manchester, TN (Bonnaroo Festival)
6/14, Athens, GA (40 Watt Club)
6/16, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
6/17, Philadelphia, PA (TLA)
6/18, New York, NY (Webster Hall)
6/19, Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
6/20, Boston, MA (Paradise)
6/21, Boston, MA (Paradise)
6/23, Cleveland, OH (Grog Shop)
6/24, Detroit, MI (Small’s)
6/25, Chicago, IL (Double Door)
6/26, Madison, WI (High Noon Saloon)
6/27, Des Moines, IA (House of Bricks)
6/29, Denver, CO (Ogden Theatre)
7/2, Calgary, AB (Sled Island Festival)
7/3, Calgary, AB (Sled Island Festival)
7/5, Vancouver, BC (Rickshaw Theatre)
7/6, Seattle, WA (Showbox at The Market)
7/7, Eugene, OR (John Henry’s)
7/9, San Jose, CA (Blank Club)