CD Review

Hearing Ash for the first time your bound to ask yourself – since when did Jet go metal? But unlike those sassy Aussies who strut their “Cold Hard Bitch,” Ash saunter their stuff to the beat of Star Wars. Yes, their ‘96 debut album 1977, was actually named after the movie’s debut year. And in an equally telling nod, the recently released videogame, Republic Commando features the Ash tune “Clones” as its theme song. But despite those connections, there’s no immediate sci-fi spin in Meltdown, just some radio flavored rock in the form of Jet, though with a little of the 80’s rock of a Tesla and Skid Row thrown in.

Meltdown sports some crafty rock and roll energy with pop metal that is certainly attention grabbing - “Orpheus” with its magnetic chorus is a winner - but “Evil Eye,” “Out of the Blue” and many others drag in ugly manufactured choruses that pull for the killer hook, but instead push the migraine button. The guitar playing is both jittery and biting, nonetheless very rock retro, as is most of the album, and the lyrics…well they’re just plain bad. Still, if you get past all that, you’re left with plenty of riffs that are big, bold and melodic.