The Melvins and Napalm Death have announced the release of a new collaborative album titled Savage Imperial Death March, set to arrive on April 10 via Ipecac Recordings.
While the two bands have shared the road under this moniker during tours in 2016 and 2025, this project marks their first full-length studio effort together. The press release emphasizes that this is “a true collaboration — not a split, but a new album featuring members of both bands.”
Recorded at The Melvins‘ studio in Los Angeles, the sessions saw Buzz Osborne (vocals/guitar) and Dale Crover (drums) writing and recording alongside Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway (vocals), Shane Embury (bass), and John Cooke (guitar).
The first taste of this union, a track titled “Tossing Coins Into The Fountain Of F**k“, premiered yesterday on SiriusXM’s “Liquid Metal” with host Jose Mangin and is now available for streaming.
For the musicians involved, the project was a labor of love and mutual admiration.
“I have loved The Melvins forever and their outlook on music,” Embury says. “A chance to make an album of eclectic musical madness with them was truly an honor and a whole lot of fun, which surely is the whole point! Let’s do another one soon.”
Osborne echoed that sentiment, highlighting the organic nature of the writing process.
“Napalm Death are one of my favorite bands ever. It was an absolute pleasure and a dream come true to do this collaboration with them. We wrote songs together. I would write a riff and we would learn it and record it right there. They wrote stuff and we would learn it immediately as well. It was truly a 50/50 partnership.”
Greenway reflected on the journey from fan to collaborator:
“Funny how life turns out sometimes… collecting hard-to-find Melvins 7-inches on Bleecker Street in 1989 and then touring twice and doing an album with them within the following 35 years. Had a great time with it all, and nice to work with fellow travelers in The Melvins who also couldn’t care about pandering to ‘demographics.’ I felt myself almost babbling lyrically during the recording, and that alone made for very fun recording times.”
Fans may recognize the title from a limited-run version sold during the bands’ 2025 tour. However, this official wide release features brand new artwork by Mackie Osborne and includes two additional tracks: “Awful Handwriting” and “Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy“.
The eight-song collection will be available digitally, on CD, and in four limited-edition vinyl variants: “Black As Your Soul,” “Indie Exclusive Obnoxious Orchid,” “Ipecac Exclusive Absurd Aqua,” and “Revolver Exclusive Neon Coral.”
Savage Imperial Death March Track Listing:
- “Tossing Coins Into The Fountain Of F**k”
- “Some Kind Of Antichrist”
- “Awful Handwriting”
- “Nine Days Of Rain”
- “Rip The God”
- “Stealing Horses”
- “Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy”
- “Death Hour”
The Melvins are scheduled to perform at the Sick New World festival this spring, with additional headlining shows in California.
Napalm Death is currently touring Europe and will head to North America later in the spring.
Napalm Death currently on tour:
- 02/11 Munchen, GER – Kulturzentrum Backstage
- 02/12 Wien, AUT – Arena Wien
- 02/13 Berlin, GER – Astra Kulturhaus
- 02/14 Hamburg, GER – Gruenspan
- 02/15 Malmo, SWE – Plan B
- 02/1D7 Warsaw, POL – Progresja
- 02/18 Leipzig, GER – Felsenkeller
- 02/19 Herford, GER – Kulturwerk
- 02/20 Leer, GER – Zollhaus Leer
- 02/21 Drachten, NET – Iduna
- 02/22 Lille, FRA – Le Splendid
- 02/24 London, UK – Electric Ballroom
- 02/25 Glasgow, UK – Clyde Room
- 02/26 Dublin, IRE – The Academy
- 02/27 Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy Liverpool
- 03/01 Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy Birmingham
Napalm Death 2026 North American Tour Dates:
- May 07 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
- May 08 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum
- May 09 – Miami, FL – Churchill’s
- May 11 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
- May 12 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
- May 13 – Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl
- May 14 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
- May 15 – Saginaw, MI – The Vault
- May 16 – [To Be Announced]
- May 17 – Huntington, WV – The Loud
- May 19 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
- May 20 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest
- May 21 – New York, NY – Racket
- May 22 – New York, NY – Rocks Off Cruise
- May 23 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
- May 24 – Portland, ME – Geno’s Rock Club
- May 26 – Moncton, NB – Tide & Boar Ballroom
- May 27 – Halifax, NS – Marquee Ballroom
- May 28 – Fredericton, NB – The Cap
- May 29 – Quebec City, QC – Salle Montaigne (w/ Pig Destroyer)
- May 30 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner (w/ Acid Bath, Pig Destroyer)
- June 01 – Montreal, QC – Fairmount
- June 02 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
- June 03 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s
- June 04 – London, ON – London Music Hall
- June 05 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot Pike Room
- June 06 – [To Be Announced]
- June 09 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
- June 10 – Regina, SK – The Exchange
- June 11 – Saskatoon, SK – Black Cat Tavern
- June 12 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
- June 13 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
- June 14 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
