Hailing from Newcastle (which gets them automatic bonus points), Melt are a three-piece alt-rock combo who are on the cusp of releasing their second EP, Engine. As always, we try our best to feature as many self-released, independent bits and bobs that we can so here’s a quick rundown…
There are four tracks on Engine, one of which is released as a single / video today. You can enjoy “Sweet” below, and it’s quite indicative of the band’s sound: heavy, melodic, trippy, atmospheric. As is often the case I’m hugely impressed with the production values, and that a independent band can create something that sounds as tight as a studio/label release with a huge budget.
Grunge undertones float around through all four tracks, but what Melt offer is a bit more than a 20s update on the 80s/90s phenomenon. This is definitely a heavier sound, more head-noddy than head-bangy, but those relaxed vocal tones are very much harking back to the likes of Nevermind.
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You’d expect a track named “Violence” to break the mould, but it doesn’t – at least not quite in the way you’d expect. It’s actually got some uplifting, airy passages which aren’t featured elsewhere, though does pick up the tempo near the end. The bounciest track, if there is one on here, is “Blu”… again, something you’d not expect from the title!
I had a good time listening to this EP and I think you will too. It’s got the right balance of “stuff I can focus on” and “stuff I can pop on in the background while I’m doing something else”.
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Album artwork photo credit: Zoetic_25. Header image by Stef Richards.
Engine is out on April 13th
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