The men who built a bridge between Black Sabbath and Nirvana are on their umpteenth version of the band (now featuring Coady Willis and Jared Warren, the rhythm section of Seattle act Big Business), yet on Nude with Boots they sound strikingly fresh and fierce. You'd never guess they've had over 20 releases. Neither would you suspect that this is contemporary material. The title track, which could pass for a pop anthem, evokes early '90s Pearl Jam, with only the group's signature double drum attack as a tip-off that it's not. "Dies Iraea," a metalized version of a familiar classical theme, shimmers like late-1970s prog-rock before segueing into the unapologetic early '70s boogie of "Suicide in Progress." Indeed, this is the most riff-happy album the Melvins have ever made, with crisp tempos and, for them, shockingly un-screwball song construction. Of course, there is "Dog Island," 7-1/2 minutes of delicious sonic magma to keep the band's stoner doom status secure -- and presidential handshakes safely at bay.

-- Steve Dollar