Ash - 'Meltdown' (Infectious)
4/5
By: Clara Burtenshaw
And before a thousand tongues of flame, the golden phoenix rose from the ashes.
Ergo the choice of sleeve on 'Meltdown' signifies a fresh lease of life; a new era, in fact, for the illustrious punk popettes whose previous release was a greatest hits album.
And 'Intergalactic Sonic 7"s' really proved how large a back-catalogue and how deserved Ash's longevity within the fickle world of music was. 'Meltdown' goes one better, giving us a taste of what's left to come. Though not a staid progression from the catchy, laidback songs that were so well-received on 'Free All Angels' - save for a dash more thunderous guitar-work and perceived 'heavier' bombast in parts - this opus equals its antecedent for memorable, melody-driven guitar tunes and sumptuous sing-along choruses (want proof: 'Out Of The Blue'; 'On A Wave'; 'Clones' - some of their most enticing matter yet).
Though there is a notable absence of an anthemic, stirring mid-tempo number such as 'FAA's 'Shining Light' (the closest is the all-out blare of 'Won't Be Saved'), fortuitously for fans, every song's still a winner, worth its weight in radio gold.
Turn up the heat. Even this far down the line, Wheeler and his phoenix are on fire.
Artists in this article: Ash
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