Melvins and Napalm Death // Live @ Bogart’s // 5.15.25 -

Article and photos: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – This year, Bogart’s is celebrating 50 years of live music, but the building itself originally hosted vaudeville productions in the 1890s. On this night, no vaudeville! Co-headliners Melvins and Napalm Death brought destructive metal to an appreciative crowd.

Opening the evening was New York’s jazz-metal instrumental experience Titan To Tochyans, with Sally Gates (guitar), Matt Hollenberg (bass), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Kenny Grohowski (drums). No vocals, just synchronized chaos.

Next, Melvins shook the stage. Buzz Osborne (lead vocals, guitar) and Steven Mcdonald (bass) are powerhouse performers, whether at the mic stand or stalking the stage. McDonald routinely kneels as he plays, dramatically leaning and swaying, making eye contact with fans.

Osborne often stepped away from the side-stage microphone toward center stage and rocked out on the guitar, flinging his head (and that amazing hair!) as the rhythms literally moved him.

Two drummers are not typical for a band, but Melvins is not your typical band. Coady Willis joined Dale Crover on the stage, harmonizing on drums in brutal fashion. Amazing!

Melvins performed an 11-song set for nearly an hour:

Working the Ditch
The Bloated Pope (Melvins & Lustmord song)
Never Say You’re Sorry
Evil New War God
It’s Shoved
Billy Fish
A History of Bad Men
Blood Witch
Honey Bucket
Revolve
Your Blessened

For this co-headlining tour, Napalm Death performed the evening’s closing set, giving a rabidly non-stop performance. From England, this band’s grindcore / death metal sound is ruthlessly ferocious, with vocals delivered via indecipherable screams, rants and rages.

Lead vocalist Mark Greenway rarely stood still, pacing the stage like a captive animal, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists in caged desperation, pounding his head, straining his neck as he released a rash of unintelligible declarations.

He was joined by Danny Herrera (drums), John Cooke (guitar) and Shane Embury (bass). Although none of the current lineup are band originals (formed in 1981), all besides Cooke joined the band in the late 1980s / early 1990s. These musicians brilliantly wove threads of cohesion amidst the on-stage pandemonium.

While Melvins performers did not often speak directly to the audience, Greenway addressed fans frequently, although it was difficult to understand what was said. Much like the delivery of the band’s lyrics, his spoken words were shouted, fast-paced and often indiscernible. It’s part of the Napalm Death experience.

Ready to undergo a night of jazz metal, heavy metal and grindcore? Check band websites for a tour stop near you, and the photo carousel below for more photos from this night’s performances.