Inhaler (Hol) [CD]

"Inhaler" is a heavy, gritty album by the Seattle-based band Tad, released in 1993 on Giant Records, a Warner Bros. Subsidiary. It's often considered their most accessible and polished work-without losing the raw, sludgy edge they were known for in the underground grunge scene. On "Inhaler" the band balances thick, heavy guitar riffs with a clearer, more defined production than on their earlier work. Tad Doyle's vocals are rough and powerful, fitting the mix of metal intensity and grunge attitude. With J. Mascis producing, the sound is more focused and radio-friendly (relatively speaking), while still keeping Tad's signature sludge-rock heaviness. It's like a hybrid of early Soundgarden, Melvins, and Black Sabbath.