Meltdown [Us Import] [Limited Edition, Import]

just get the cd and realise how the best can get better!

Here's a summary of the tracks:

1. Meltdown: Thunderous opener that more or less lays down the blueprint for the album. Guitars rage throughout the track, and it gives a pretty good idea what to expect in the rest of the album. 9/10

2. Orpheus: The first single, and given that it's been played to death on more or less every radio station in the country, you're likely to be familiar with it. The crunching guitars and tribal drums are formidable, but there is a slight feeling that it was churned out with intent of being "the single"... 8/10

3. Evil Eye: Probable third single (although it could end up being released before Starcrossed), this is the closest Ash have come to recapturing Oh Yeah, and works incredibly well in a Pixies style quiet bass verse, loud guitar chorus fashion. Unlikely to leave your head once it's lodged in there. 10/10

4. Clones: The internet only single that made everyone wonder what had happened to that nice pop band Ash. It is as heavy as they've ever been, and incredibly catchy - likely to have you bouncing around the room. 10/10

5. Starcrossed: This is the heartbreak song that occurs on every Ash album, although this time it's flawless. Imagine Sometimes from Free All Angels, but executed properly. Piano and all, this is the mid paced balad that's likely to fuel a million more teenage girls in their obsession for Mr Wheeler. Probable second single 10/10

6. Out Of The Blue: Uptempo tune with decent melody and a catcy chorus. Sounds a bit like Burn Baby Burn, but without that killer hook line. Bit of a disappointment after the previous three tracks. 8/10

7. Renegade Cavalcade: Again there are major Pixies influences to this track, and it has a trademark Tim Wheeler chorus that is as good as anything he's ever done. 9/10

8. Detonator: This one really shows up the influence of the producer, who's worked with the Foo Fighters. An impressive drum beat throughout and soaring guitar lines, fused with yet anoher killer chorus make this one of the album's highlights 10/10

9. On A Wave: Good uptempo rock song, but in the company of the rest of the album it falters. Solid, but not incredible 7/10

10. Won't Be Saved: Just when you thought they wouldn't do it, Ash make a song reminiscent of Walking Barefoot, just like any Free All Angels fan would have been hoping. Awesome backing voclas by Charlotte and a likely fourth single. 9/10

11. Vampire Love: Seemingly the rhythm section, Rick and Mark, are slightly confused on this one. They seem to think they're in the Smashing Pumpking all of a sudden. The result is a song that sounds like Zero from Mellon Collie... but actually has a chorus to speak of. Tim's best guitar solo, and a great dynamic throughout make this just about the best track on the album. 10/10

Overall, as the marks I've given each track suggest, this is an outstanding album. If I had any qualms, it would be that the opener isn't upto the normal gobsmacking Ash standards (on all three previous albums the first track has been excellent: Lose Control on 1977, Projects on Nu-clear Sounds and Walking Barefoot on Free All Angels) and is very good rather than excellent. Also, the b-side to Orpheus (Tinseltown) really should have been included. It is a nine minute epic that would have rouned off the album in spectacular style, and judging by the sleeve notes for Meltdown it was inteded at some point to be the closer. I highly recommend buying the single just to get hold of this track, which quite frankly I reckon would have been the best track on here if it was included.

These are nonetheless fairly minor qualms when you consider that Meltdown is an album that most bands would kill to have as their "Best Of". Ash are truly essential, and it's great to have them back.