Melvins include: King Buzzo (vocals, guitar); Dale Crover (keyboards, drums, background vocals); Kevin "Rutmanis" (bass).

Additional personnel includes" Toshi Kasai (keyboards).

Recorded at Hook Studios, North Hollywood, California.

Personnel: King Buzzo (vocals, guitar); Dale Crover (vocals, keyboards, drums); Dave Scott Stone (electronics).

Audio Mixer: Tosh Kasai.

Recording information: Hook Studios, North Hollywood, CA.

Photographer: Kevin Willis.

You couldn't blame the Melvins if they decided to sit around and rest on their past accomplishments (their most obvious being almost single-handedly creating Seattle's grunge sound, which has been infinitely copied by others). But nearly 20 years after their initial formation, HOSTILE AMBIENT TAKEOVER found the trio continuing to crank out albums at a brisk rate. Don't be fooled by the title, there's nothing remotely ambient about this album--just eight good old-fashioned tracks of hard-hitting, Sabbath-esque nightmare metal.

From time to time, the Melvins has been known to feature renowned special guests on their albums (1993's HOUDINI featured Kurt Cobain, 2000's THE CRYBABY featured former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton, etc.). HOSTILE is no different--Tool guitarist Adam Jones guests on the album closer, "The Anti Vermin Seed," an epic 15-minute noise fest. Other instant Melvins classics include "Black Stooges," "Dr. Geek," and "The Fool, the Meddling Idiot."

Alternative Press (7/02, p.85) - 8 out of 10 - "...One of the most strictly rockin'...Melvins albums in recent memory....TAKEOVER is the kind of wet-fanged metal monsters old-school fans pray will come annually..."

Magnet (6-7/02, p.96) - "...Constant menace and a monobrowed subwoofer-destroying bass. Awesome..."

The Wire (06/02, p.58) - "...HOSTILE AMBIENT TAKEOVER is a resounding testament to The Melvins' singularity of purpose..."