Reviving the touring tandem that first set out together back in 2016, grind legends Napalm Death along with iconic punk outliers Melvins continue their powerhouse union on the second edition of the Savage Imperial Death March Tour.
The first outing took place some nine years ago with a six-week voyage that brought together two of heavy music's most groundbreaking units. Attempting to again capture that lightning in a bottle, the pairing have been laying waste to theatres and music halls across the country.
Similar to the 2016 editon, Melvins are performing with Dale Crover on the drums following a medical emergency that sidelined him in 2023. Along with Crover, Coady Willis will also be on drums, bringing back the dual-drumming dynamic that only the Melvins can pull off.
For the grind legends in Napalm Death, the band's Los Angeles stop at the Belasco Theatre showcased a marathon performance spanning the band's lengthy, generational-spanning tenure. Sourcing from seminal works including SCUM, From Enslavement to Obliteration, Death By Manipulation as well as the band's modern era in Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism and Resentment Is Always Seismic... the totality of Napalm's set was comprehensive.
The duo of Barney Greenway and Shane Embury are among the very best one-two combinations in the game. While their rank in extreme music remains undeniable, their presence onstage is formidable and commanding - not to be fucked and yet somehow inclusive for everyone raging along.
Closing the show with a finishing blow of their Dead Kennedy's cover of "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" and the evergreen "Siege of Power" - Napalm Death asserted their brand of brutality and dissent remains ever as anthemic and appropriate as ever.
As for Melvins, few bands are as profound in their versatility and almost none could even aspire to be as prolific. Its remarkable the band is able to narrow down such a vast catalog into a supporting set, yet over the course of 11 tracks, Melvins framed a well-rounded presentation of their songwriting prowess.
From the bombastic "Evil New War God" to the groove of "It's Shoved" from Bullhead, to the stoner metal buzz of "Blood Witch" and the charging fury of 'Honey Bucket," Melvins roared with relevance asserting their position as both contemporaries and innovators. Whether from the marvel of 1993's Houdini, to scorch of 2006's A Senile Animal to the heft of 2024's Tarantula Heart, Melvins' wealth of material is unmatched in both size and scope.
See the gallery of images from Los Angeles tour stop below from Maurice Nunez. Check the remaining dates of the Savage Imperial Death March Tour below. Get tickets - HERE
NAPALM DEATH
MELVINS
