Hostile Ambient Takeover

Melvins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ipecac Recordings
• ASIN: B000063KR1
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,080 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The REAL Ecclectic Electric, April 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Hostile Ambient Takeover (Audio CD)

I just came into possession of this little gem about a week ago....and I am still recovering.Many people look at this album as a relativley straight-ahead rock album...at least by the Melvins standards .I think most say that out of comparison to their then more recent releases such as "Electroretard" and the its over my head "Colossus of Destiny".And yes compared to them this is indeed a coventional rocker of an album.However it is only conventional when applied as a term to the Melvins universe.While these songs rock harder and groove better than 99% of anything you will hear on the radio this year,they still retain their experimental edge all through the album.Some standout cuts include "Dr Geek"...which for some reason reminds me of Primus...at least in terms of the song structure.It has a loose rockabilly sound matched with a punk fury ,and it is pulled off briliantly."Little Judas Chongo" is absolutely phenomenal.Maybe i make too much out of this song really.Its not the catchiest thing they ever done,but being a guitarist myself,this song just reaches out and grabs my jugular."The Brain Center at Whipples" and the epic like "The Fool,the Melding Idiot" are also both outstanding tracks."Black Stooges" and "Foaming" are good,but I just cant get into "The Anti-Vermin Seed".I like a lot of their experimental ,ambient peices..but that one doesent do anything for me.All in all a very strong release and if you already have a fondness for the Melvins this is a must have album....Hope i helped.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thanks....I Needed That!, February 13, 2003

By 

Vincent Priceless (Glen Cove, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostile Ambient Takeover (Audio CD)

I gotta laff - 'cause The Melvins are the pioneers of a sound that so many other so-called Alternative, Hard Rock, Metal, Punk, bla bla bla bands try so hard to emulate, but simply lack the testicular fortitude and vision to pull it off (or even admit to, for that matter). This is a band with three PLAYERS - guys who really turn it up a notch when it comes to kicking out the jams. They are not afraid to take chances, they are funny, they always keep the listener guessing (expect the unexpected), they don't give a rat's rump about the fast-food crud that is the popular x-generation "alternative" rock music of today (barf!) - Melvins march to the beat of their own drummer - and man o man, Dale C. is one the best you will ever hear...King Buzzo is a 5-string guitar/noise icon with a penchant for covering vintage Alice Cooper Group tunes (i am not worthy)...and Kevin R. holds it together with slide bass (!) - proving to be the most consistent foundation in the "revolving door" of bassists the band has had through the years. Buy this record if you want to purge your soul of all the commonplace sludge being passed around and lauded by the industry onanists as the next big hard rock/punk thing. If u like your rock & roll loud, masterful, freaky & adventurous, and prefer "art" to "pop", this record is for you. Note: you HAVE NOT lived until you've seen these guys live - dunk your head in a vat of molasses & place inside an idling jet engine...voila! (of course, don't try this at home or abroad...teehee)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! The Melvins rock out!, July 14, 2002

By 

Thomas Muckinhaupt (Erie, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hostile Ambient Takeover (Audio CD)

The Melvins can be frustrating at times, going from excellent hard rocking classics like Ozma, Houdini,Stoner Witch, to unlistenable ...- "The Colussus of Destiny, Prick, etc. Hostile Ambient Takeover is probably the best they have ever done from start to finish. The rhythms are amazing, Buzzo plays some of the best guitar riffs he has played in years. If you've been a disappointed Melvins fan, this is the CD to make you realize why you loved them in the first place. Definitely worth five stars!!