One of the icons of Alternative Rock music who influenced the creation of two of the genres - Grunge and Sludge Metal- The Melvins are touring North America. Coheadlining the tour were the pioneers of Grindcore - Napalm Death. On the night of May 5th, the stop was in Philadelphia at Union Transfer. People flooded into the venue for a sold-out show to see the bands live on stage.
Melvins - The 4 part band with 2 Drummers created a unique sound, and adding to that was their presence on stage with their unique attire. Buzz Osborne on the guitars and vocals is an iconic personality himself, Steven Shane McDonald on the Bass is just a treat to see him perform, and Dale Crover and Coady Willis on the drums took the energy of the room to a different level. With every song, they just showed why they have been relevant for almost 40 years and why they have influenced the sounds of so many great bands for all these years. The setlist consisted of all of their famous songs out of the 100s of songs that they have created - “Working the Ditch”, “The Bloated Pope”, “Revolve”, and “Honey Bucket”. Overall, it was an honor for us and the audience to witness them live, and a big shout-out to the organizers and management for the successful execution of the show.
Napalm Death is the sonic embodiment of pure, unrelenting intensity. It’s not just noise; it’s a calculated detonation of sound. Tracks like “You Suffer,” the Guinness World Record holder for shortest song, aren’t gimmicks—they’re a statement. But Napalm Death isn’t just about speed and volume—it’s about substance. Their lyrics are deeply political and socially conscious, tackling themes like systemic oppression, war, capitalism, and environmental collapse. Barney Greenway’s vocals might sound like a monster roaring from the depths of the earth, but when you dig into the lyrics, you find a deeply articulate and compassionate worldview. Shane Embury was unable to play due to illness, replaced by guitar tech Matt Sheridan for the Philly show, and the setlist consisted of songs like - "Scum", "Nazi Punks Fuck off" and "Siege of power".
Overall, it was an honor for us and the audience to witness the two bands live, and a big shout-out to the organizers and management for the successful execution of the show.
MELVINS
(Photos by Shuvam)
Napalm Death
(Photos by Keith)
