Stoner Witch
Stoner Witch
Stoner Witch is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Melvins. It was released on October 18, 1994, through Atlantic Records, their second album for the label. The record was made in 1994 at A&M Studios in Hollywood, with Garth "GGGarth" Richardson and Joe Barresi producing. It was tracked in 19 days, with most songs captured in a single take and the entire recording and mastering done in one continuous session. The title comes from a phrase drummer Dale Crover and his friends used for “the stoner chicks” in high school.
Musically, Stoner Witch is described as grunge, stoner rock, and sludge metal. It blends the Melvins’ heavy, late-’80s/early-’90s sound with more radio-friendly song structures. Critics note its mix of hammering riffs and classic-rock influences, with some seeing it as a bridge between Houdini-era ideas and more accessible, rock-oriented tunes.
Sales at release were about 50,000 copies, with especially strong interest in New York City and Seattle. The promotional singles “Revolve” and “Queen” had accompanying music videos.
Critical reception was mixed to positive. AllMusic praised the album as the band at the peak of their wide-ranging creativity. Rolling Stone remarked that many songs use conventional metal forms. Treblezine called it the happiest Melvins record, reworking classic rock and metal through their hazy style. The Village Voice’s Robert Christgau gave it a C. Decibel later inducted Stoner Witch into its Hall of Fame. Spin ranked it No. 9 on its list of the 20 Greatest Grunge Albums of All Time. Treblezine also included it on lists of essential grunge and stoner rock albums. In 2016, Third Man Records reissued the album.
The songs were written by Buzz Osborne, with music by the Melvins (Dale Crover, Mark Deutrom, and Osborne), except where noted.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:09 (CET).