the melvins were influenced by the sludge metal sound of
Generally considered as a sludge metal, grunge, experimental rock, alternative metal and doom metal band, Melvins explored a variety of different styles throughout its career, including noise rock, dark ambient, noise, jazz-rock, avant-garde music, electroacoustic music and punk country. Initially starting out as a hardcore punk act, their sound eventually started to absorb influences by Black Flag's mix of punk and metal on their My War and Slip It In albums, the Butthole Surfers, slow punk acts like Flipper and the Wipers, and also by hard rock and metal bands such as Kiss and Alice Cooper. Buzzo has stated that his guitar playing is more influenced by Black Flag than Black Sabbath, with whom they are often compared.