Hostile Ambient Takeover

Hostile Ambient Takeover
Hostile Ambient Takeover
	; Three jackasses.
Studio album by Melvins
Released	April 16 2002
Recorded	at Hook Studios in Hollywood, California, USA
Genre	Sludge Metal, Noise Rock, Experimental
Length	46:23
Label	Ipecac Recordings
Producer	Melvins; Toshi Kasai
Melvins chronology

Hostile Ambient Takeover (Often simply known as HAT.) is the fourteenth studio album by the Melvins, released in 2002 through Ipecac Recordings. Notably it would be the first studio album to feature production by longtime producer Toshi Kasai. Excluding collaborative efforts, it would also be the last studio album to feature Kevin Rutmanis on bass.

Each song was released as a limited 7" vinyl single (limited to 2,500 copies each) that included exclusive B-sides, which are mostly covers (except for "The Anti-Vermin Seed" which was split up onto both sides of its single). At the time of release it garnered mixed reviews from critics, though has been since been reviewed more favorably. Despite being a fan favorite, it is also notable as one of the worst selling Melvins albums.

Background[]

Recording would take place at Hook Studios in late 2001. It would be the band's first time working with producer Toshi Kasai, whom they've worked with ever since. The album would be full recorded in roughly ten days, with sessions taking no longer than eight to nine hours each day.^[1] Hostile Ambient Takeover would be released on CD in April of 2002 via Ipecac Recordings. The vinyl edition would comprise of 7 7" singles, each taking a song from the album with an exclusive b-side, five of which being cover songs. In regards to the final track ("The Anti-Vermin Seed") it would be edited down a bit and split into both sides.

Hostile Ambient Takeover would recieve largely mixed reviews upon release. Bradley Torreano, writing for AllMusic and awarding a 3/5, would state "The Melvins have yet to live up to their incredible hot streak in the early 90's, but like Motorhead before them they have managed to find endless variations on a likable sound that is distinctly theirs. Fans will probably love it, but to the uninitiated this might be a little too steeped in their traditional weirdness to appeal to non-adventurous listeners.".^[2] David Pinella, writing for Brainwashed, would praise the album and in particular the final track, closing by stating "The result is a suitably dark ending to a dark album. The bright contrasting colors of the album art and cover aside, this is a beautifully dark album. If dark slow pounding sounds good to you, so will this album.".^[3] Exclaim! would also be largely positive.^[4] However Rolling Stone^[5] and Blender^[6] would elicit mixed reviews and Pitchfork would award a 5.6/10, largely praising "Little Judas Chongo" and noting that this album will age better over time.^[7]

On 30 October 2020, Amphetamine Reptile Records would re-issue the b-sides on it's own release known as Hostile Ambient Besides, on Cheapy $5 CD and limited 45RPM LP.^[8]^[9] On 26 February 2021, Hostile Ambient Takeover would get it's first proper vinyl issue via Ipecac, limited to 3000 copies.^[10]

Tracklist[]

All songs written by Buzz Osborne except where noted.