Nirvana – Incesticide (2xLP)

Incesticide, released in December 1992, is a compilation of Nirvana rarities, B-sides, demos, and BBC sessions issued between their breakthrough *Nevermind* and *In Utero*. Rather than presenting new studio work, the album offers a rawer portrait of the band’s evolving sound, situating grunge within punk, pop, and experimental contours. Selections such as “Dive,” “Sliver,” and “Aneurysm” underscore Kurt Cobain’s emotional volatility and melodic instincts, while the inclusion of covers and alternate takes deepens the sense of a band unconstrained by genre or expectation. The varied origin of tracks—recorded over multiple sessions with different drummers—lends the compilation a patchwork spontaneity and urgency.

Over time, Incesticide has grown in stature among fans and critics alike as more than a stopgap release. The compilation’s medley of lesser-known material highlights Nirvana’s versatility and restlessness—capable of both abrasive punk bursts and delicate melodic turns. Songs like “Been a Son” and “Aneurysm” are now often cited as hidden gems that stand on equal footing with the band’s more celebrated work. Rather than being a scattershot collection, Incesticide invites repeated listening as a deeper exploration of Nirvana’s undercurrents and the breadth behind their mainstream impact.

"Yeah, there's some filler here, but this is the sound of what Nirvana was actually like." – AllMusic

“In the crests and punches and crashes of ‘Dive,’ Cobain shows all the contours and shapes he could carve with his voice.” – Pitchfork

“Incesticide collects a set of obscurities that feel strangely cohesive, illuminating the band’s raw power and melodic command in alternate light.” – VICE

“Nirvana in their punk mode is revealed in full force on this anthology — abrasiveness, humor, pathos and all.” – Rolling Stone