Melvins 1983, the stripped-down incarnation of the long-running band, is back with Thunderball, their first full-length release in four years. Slated for an April 18 release via Ipecac Recordings, the album brings together Buzz Osborne and original Melvins drummer Mike Dillard, continuing the raw, unfiltered energy that defines this version of the group.
“This is the third Melvins 1983 record we’ve made together, and I wanted it to be bombastic—I think we achieved that,” Osborne states. He also highlights the involvement of electronic artists Void Manes and Ni Maîtres, adding, “Both of them are exceptional talents. Their out-of-the-box use of electronics pushed Thunderball beyond my expectations.”
The album’s first preview, “Victory of the Pyramids,” is out now, paired with a visualizer by Jesse Nieminen. The track opens with an almost deceptive pop sensibility before spiraling into heavy, sludgy depths, anchored by Dillard’s relentless drumming. “A lovely blend of beautiful noise and gut-busting grooves,” Dillard remarks.
The album was recorded by Toshi Kasai at Sound of Sirens Studios.
Pre-orders are available now, with Thunderball coming in multiple vinyl variants, including an indie-exclusive “Smoke Is A Color” and an Ipecac webstore-only “Special Mustard Gas.” It will also be available on CD and digital platforms.
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Formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington, the Melvins have remained one of the most influential heavy bands over four decades. Buzz Osborne, joined by longtime drummer Dale Crover a year later, pioneered a mix of punk and slow, crushing riffs that reshaped underground music. Their discography spans more than 30 original albums, with Tarantula Heart (2024) showcasing their unpredictable songwriting approach, Bad Mood Rising (2022) diving into sludgy intensity, and Five Legged Dog (2021) reinterpreting their work in acoustic form.
Melvins have collaborated with artists like Jello Biafra, Mudhoney, and Fantômas, maintaining a relentless tour schedule. Their lineup has shifted over the years, incorporating members from Big Business, Butthole Surfers, and Mr. Bungle, but whether stripped down or expanded, their core remains intact.
For Thunderball, Melvins 1983 sticks to its roots—raw, unapologetic, and constantly moving forward. “It’s all about keeping things interesting,” Osborne says. “That’s why we do this.”
Before the album drops, Melvins will play a short run of California shows in March under The Spring Break Tour, followed by an extensive nine-week nationwide co-headlining trek with Napalm Death. The tour, dubbed Savage Imperial Death March Part II, revisits the two bands’ 2016 collaborative run.
“The Spring Break Tour”
March 1 Bakersfield, CA The Nile Theater
March 2 Fresno, CA Strummer’s
March 3 Sacramento, CA Goldfield Trading Post
March 4 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst Atrium
March 5 San Luis Obispo, CA SLO Brew Rock
March 7 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s
“Savage Imperial Death March Part II” tour dates:
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April 4 San Diego, CA Music Box
April 5 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
April 7 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
April 8 San Jose, CA The Ritz
April 10 Los Angeles, CA The Belasco
April 12 Las Vegas, NV Swan Dive
April 13 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
April 14 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
April 15 El Paso, TX Lowbrow Palace
April 17 Dallas, TX The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
April 18 Austin, TX Emo’s
April 19 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall – Downstairs
April 20 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Live
April 21 New Orleans, LA House of Blues New Orleans
April 23 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
April 24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
April 25 Orlando, FL The Beacham
April 26 Savannah, GA District Live
April 27 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Heaven Stage
April 28 Birmingham, AL Saturn
April 29 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club
May 1 Charlotte, NC The Underground – Charlotte
May 2 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
May 3 Virginia Beach, VA Elevation 27
May 4 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
May 5 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
May 6 Allentown, PA Archer Music Hall
May 7 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw
May 8 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
May 10 Pittsburgh, PA Mr .Small’s
May 11 Cleveland, OH Globe Iron
May 12 Detroit, MI Saint Andrew’s Hall
May 13 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
May 15 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
May 16 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom
May 17 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
May 18 St. Louis, MO Red Flag
May 19 Chicago, IL Metro
May 20 Milwaukee, WI The Rave II
May 22 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
May 23 Des Moines, IA Wooly’s
May 24 Kansas City, MO Madrid Theatre
May 25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
May 27 Denver, CO Summit
May 29 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
May 31 Bozeman, MT The ELM
June 1 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
June 2 Seattle, WA The Showbox
June 3 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
June 4 Eugene, OR McDonald Theatre
June 6 Reno, NV Virginia Street Brewhouse
June 7 Berkeley, CA Cornerstone Berkeley
