Meltdown (Ash album)

Ash released their third studio album, Free All Angels, in April 2001.[1] The album was a commercial success, saving the band from the brink of bankruptcy. It reached number one in the UK, and spawned five UK top 40 singles.[2] When on tour in the US, Ash were consuming a lot of rock radio.[3] Frontman Tim Wheeler wanted to go into a heavier direction for the band's next album, in vein of Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction (1987) and Nirvana's Nevermind (1991).[4] In September 2002, the band released their first compilation album, Intergalactic Sonic 7″s.[5] They promoted with a three-month supporting US slot for Saves the Day through to the end of the year.[6] Wheeler wrote 14 new songs after attending the February 2003 peace march.[7] The following month, Wheeler told the NME that he wanted to in an experimental electronic direction for their next album, after utilizing computers to score a short film.[8]

In May and June 2003, the band embarked on their first headlining tour of the US in five years.[9] Throughout the year, the band debuted several new songs.[2] In October, the band disembarked to Los Angeles, California to record their next album, staying at Julia Roberts' former home in Beverly Hills.[10] The sessions where held at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, and Chalice Studios in Hollywood, with the proceedings being co-produced between Nick Raskulinecz and the band.[11] They worked with Raskulinecz at the recommendation of Andy Gill from Gang of Four, who told Wheeler he "got the best drum sound he’s ever heard" from using Raskulinecz.[10]

Another reason the band chose him was that they wanted the album to have more of an American sound to it, with Wheeler thought that American-made albums "sound better sonically", with "better engineering, better studios, so we wanted to check it out firsthand."[12] Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl had visited the studio a few times during the recording, but the band reframed from asking him to play on any recordings, as Wheeler explained: "There’s a whole bunch of people we could have called, but we just want to get our band’s sound on record."[10] Despite planning to have finished by November, the sessions continued until January 2004.[2][10] Rich Costey mixed the recordings at Cello Studios, also in Hollywood, with assistance from Claudius Mittendorfer. Howie Weinberg mastered the album at Masterdisk.[11]

Musically, the sound of Meltdown has been described as hard rock,[13][14] with influence from metal,[15] drawing comparison to the Smashing Pumpkins.[16] The guitarwork throughout the album recalled the likes of Black Sabbath and Metallica, and featured numerous solos from guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.[17][18] It saw a shift away from the pop punk style of Free All Angels, resulting in the band's heaviest-sounding release.[19][20] Discussing the album's title, Wheeler explained: "Why? Cos it’s a meltdown. A full-on rock monster. A real face-melter. It’ll tear your face off."[21] Wheeler wrote all of the songs, except for "Meltdown" (which he co-wrote with Hatherley), and "Out of the Blue" (which he co-wrote with bassist Mark Hamilton).[11] Dracula is a reoccurring lyrical theme throughout the album.[17]

The opening title-track "Meltdown" is a political piece that channelled the sound of AC/DC and the Foo Fighters.[18][22] Wheeler wrote it after witnessing a peace demonstration; Hatherley wrote the middle eight guitar riff.[23][24] "Orpheus" switches between indie pop and heavy rock, while the verse sections see Wheeler employ 1970s metal guitar riffs.[22][25] Wheeler said the lyrics were taken from Greek mythology, and talks about the death of his friend's mother.[26] "Evil Eye" is a slower track with Wheeler and Hatherley trading vocals, and tells the story of a female suitor.[17][27] It features a backwards message that says "She's giving me the Evil Eye. Suck Satan's cock."[28] Wheeler said "Clones" was about the homogenization of mankind, and "a rant about some person who’s let you down, a person you thought was different and they turn out to be the same as everyone else."[10] The song has an instrumental break section that was influenced by Rage Against the Machine.[29]

"Starcrossed" is a string-led power ballad, reminiscent of the material on Free All Angels.[22][30] It re-tells the story of Romeo and Juliet.[17] "Out of the Blue" evokes "Song 2" (1997) by Blur, and "Surf Wax America" (1994) by Weezer.[31][32] "Renegade Cavalcade" features staccato guitar parts during the version sections.[22] "Detonator" utilizes the talking guitar in vein of Peter Frampton during the verse sections.[4] "Won't Be Saved" recalled the band's earlier material.[29] "Vampire Love" closed the album with Placebo-esque lyrics, and a cello part played by Oli Kraus.[16][11]

On 29 January 2004, Meltdown was announced for release later in the year.[21] "Clones" was released as the lead single on 25 February, exclusively as a download-only single.[33] The song's music video premiered on MTV2 on 26 February.[34] The band's US label Kinetic Records dissolved on 26 March; the band's manager was in talks with interested people in an attempt to release the album in that territory later in the year.[35] On 3 May, "Orpheus" was released as a single; the CD version featured "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" (with Chris Martin of Coldplay) and "Tinsel Town".[35][25]

Meltdown was released through Infectious Records on 17 May 2004.[36] The album cover shows a tattoo-stylized phoenix rising from flames. Its booklet features liner notes written by author JT LeRoy.[17] A special edition double CD version was released in the UK, with the second disk consisting of live recordings from their UK tour earlier in the year.[35] Two versions were released in Japan: one that added "Tinsel Town" and "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" to the main album, while the other added extra live recordings to the UK special edition live disc.[37][38]

The band promote the UK release with a series of in-store signings.[39] "Starcrossed" was released as a single on 19 July 2004; the CD version featured "Cool It down" and "Solace".[35][40] "Renegade Cavalcade" was released as a single on 6 December 2004; the CD version featured "We Don't Care", while the 7" vinyl version included "Shockwave".[41][42][43] The song was initially planned for released in November, however, it was pushed back due to the band's record label having made a video for it in their absence, which they disliked.[44]

On 8 February 2005, the band released the EP Commando, which featured "Meltdown", "Clones", "Evil Eye", and "Tinstle Town".[35] To coincide with the band's US trek, Meltdown was released in that territory on 8 March, through the label Record Collection.[45] This version included the bonus tracks "Shockwave", "Solace", and "Cool It Down", as well as a video of music videos.[46] The title-track "Meltdown" was released to American radio stations on 24 May.[47]

"Orpheus", "Clones", and "Starcrossed" were included on the band's second compilation album The Best of Ash (2011).[48] "Orpheus" and "Clones" were released on 7" vinyl as part of '94–'04 The 7" Singles Box Set (2019).[49] "Orpheus", "Clones", and "Starcrossed" were included on the band's third compilation album Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years of Ash (2020).[50] Meltdown was reissued on CD through BMG in 2018.[51]

Ash performing at Leeds Festival.

In February and March 2004, Ash embarked on a tour of Europe, and then a club tour of the UK.[52][53] On 25 April, the band headlined BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[54] On 2 May, the band headlined one of the stages at the Coachella Festival.[35] In May and June, the band went on another UK tour, with support from Saves the Day and the Crimea.[55][56] In August, the band appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[35] In October and November, the band toured across Europe.[35] The band supported the Clash on their arena tour in December.[57]

At the start of 2005, the band toured across Japan.[57] In March and April 2005, the band embarked on a headlining US tour, with support from the Bravery.[58] While on tour in the US in June, the band were travelling to San Francisco when their bus caught on fire. They were waiting on the side of the road for a new bus, however, the band got a call telling them that this new bus had also caught on fire. The band drove themselves in a van to a show, where they borrow equipment from the Bravery.[59] In July, the band supported U2 for three shows in Europe.[35]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100[60]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[22]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[31]
Entertainment.ie	[20]
The Guardian	[29]
IGN	8.2/10[32]
Melodic	[19]
Pitchfork	6.8/10[16]
PopMatters	6/10[18]
Stylus Magazine	C+[15]
Yahoo! Launch	[17]

Meltdown was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 78, based on 16 reviews.[60]

AllMusic reviewer Jason Damas wrote that Meltdown was "burst[ing] with the hooks and little musical flourishes that have made the more mature Ash records such a treat," with minimal "meandering malaise" that plagued the band's second album, Nu-Clear Sounds (1998). He added that it was a "surprisingly strong and assured record" that would enhance the band's legacy.[22] Yahoo! Launch writer Emma Morgan said that the album "sounds exactly like what it is – a post-pubescent take" on the band's debut studio album, 1977 (1996). She went on fruther to say, it was a "turdy, well-written and ... mature addition to Ash’s enduring and near-essential canon".[17] JR of IGN called it "every bit as good as you'd hoped it would be", providing "on enough levels to accept the invitation into your stereo… and your brain."[32] Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams viewed as a "combo of Ash of all ages ... This is the kinda rock record us malnourished Brits can be proud of. It's Ash being Ash."[31] Andrew Unterberger of Stylus Magazine said the metal influence delivers "enough to give the album a bit of personality and distinctiveness without totally overpowering the band’s signature sound."[15]

Entertainment.ie reviewer Andrew Lynch wrote that Meltdown was "by far the heaviest-sounding album they've made to date, sometimes a bit too heavy for Tim Wheeler's slightly weedy voice." He added, "for all the bulldozer riffs and ferocious guitar solos on display here, the superb melodies prove that they're still just a great pop band at heart."[20] Pitchfork contributor Jason Crock noted that while the album "rock[s] harder, and with more snarl," than the band's past works, they "still can't help but reveal their melodic sweet tooth."[16] PopMatters' Adrien Begrand said the album was "slightly more consistent" than the previous one, highlighting Hatherley's talents as a guitarist and her vocals.[18] The Guardian writer Steve Pill saw the album as "a festival set list in waiting ... this may be the first rock album of the year you can sing in the shower and make a better hash of."[29] Kaj Roth of Melodic wrote that the band "cranked up the volume to 11 and then just rocked." He also called it one of the better albums of the year, as well as "one of the most fun to listen to".[19]

Meltdown entered the charts at number 5 in the UK,[61] number 5 in Scotland,[62] and number 6 in Ireland.[63] Outside of these territories, it reached number 25 in Norway,[64] number 65 in Germany,[65] number 78 in Austria,[66] and number 87 in Australia.[67] The album was later certified gold in the UK.[68] "Clones" charted at number 12 in Ireland. "Orpheus" charted at number 13 in the UK, and number 17 in Ireland. "Starcrossed" charted at number 19 in Ireland, and number 22 in the UK. "Renegade Cavalcade" charted at number 22 in Ireland, and number 33 in the UK.[61][63]

All tracks written by Tim Wheeler, except where noted.[11]

Personnel per booklet.[11]