10 Songs is where it all began. The very first CD by the original purveyors of sludge, a re-release of this out of print gem has been long overdue. Considering it was recorded all the way back in 1986 to a standard 2 track analog recorder, no mixing involved, 10 Songs has dated incredibly well. The CD sounds as formidably loud and dauntingly heavy as it did the day it was released. A messy collage of punk ferocity and metallic dirges that feels like it was spawned on another planet. This single EP introduced the idea that slower could be heavier, countering the accepted punk rock philosophies of speed-core and establishing a brand new genre of music. Cranking the volume up, slowing the tempos down, and converting the vocals to a guttural drone, 10 Songs went against the grain in every way giving a stiff middle finger to the punk rock status quo.

Even after all these years, it's still obvious that Melvins couldn't have been more right. Case in point, the earlier demos which hint at a far more punky Melvins ensemble easily pale in comparison to the atmospheric bludgeoning of the songs final renditions. Furthermore, brilliant moments like the powerhouse drumming of "At a Crawl" or the disorienting chaos of "Show Off Your Red Hands" instantly certify the validity of Melvins musical crusade regardless of what sounds came before it. While the actual album is certainly the real highlight here, the new demos and outtakes featured on 26 Songs are a nice addition providing a very interesting glimpse into the pre-studio life of Melvins. If you are intrigued by the idea of tracing the bands roots from their days of a million miles per hour punk to their pinnacle of unique metallic forte then 26 songs is where to start.