Dillard left and was replaced by Dale Crover

In the beginning, they played Jimi Hendrix and Who covers, and also began playing fast hardcore punk . Dillard left the band in 1984 and was replaced by local drummer Dale Crover . The band’s rehearsals moved to a back room of Crover’s parents’ house in Aberdeen, Washington . Soon afterward, they started to play songs slower and “heavier” than nearly anyone else at the time. In 1985, C/Z Records was created to document the Washington music scene. The label released Deep Six , featuring four songs by the Melvins. In 1986, the band released their debut, the Six Songs EP, on C/Z Records (later releases expanded and retitled this as 8 Songs , 10 Songs , and eventually 26 Songs in 2003 on Ipecac Recordings ). The album was recorded live to a two track at the now closed Ironwood Studio in Seattle on February 8, 1986.