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Dear Ash,
How do you continue to rock like you do? Let me count the ways…
Your new record is full of the kind of rocking bad-assness that
people like me instantly fall in love with and continue to fall
ever deeper with each listen. This album is most certainly your
most varied and passionate to date. I can't believe how far you've
come since those early records way back in the 90's. When did
you add a girl to the line-up? Charlotte's vocals add a
nice texture to the recording, sometimes even reminding me of
Shirley Manson from Garbage. Of course, the guitar
work of Tim Wheeler is as solid and driving as it ever
has been. You can't go wrong with those humbucking guitars through
Orange amps! The songs are mostly more punky than I recall your
older records sounding, but there is still the edgey pop that
we fans have always loved about the band. The rhythm section of
Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray (bass and drums,
respectively) maintain their solid tendencies, but seem to imbue
the music on this new record with even more drive and power than
I've ever heard in your music before. Solid and powerful are the
two words that I would have to say Meltdown brings to the
front of my vocabulary each time I listen. The songs are brilliant
lyrically; I think my favorite lines are from "Detonator".
"High Explosive girl you turn me on/ so volatile, like a
walking atom bomb/; it just takes one spark to kerosene/ you go
off like nitro-glycerine…" That's some very rock and
fucking roll lyrics, man! I love it.
This DVD that comes with the record is also very cool. I love
the videos for "Clones" and "Starcrossed".
They are filled with some of the coolest footage I've seen in
years. I also liked the documentary footage, and the making-of
videos. It's very cool that you included this footage, and it
is also very cool to hear you guys talk about the music, and get
more of an inside view about the songs and the process.
Thanks for making a high-energy rock album that older and younger
people can all appreciate and rock out with. These songs are
superbly produced and arranged, and I can't wait to see you
guys (and girl) live!
Love always,
-L. Keane
Track Listing:
1. Meltdown
2. Orpheus
3. Evil Eye
4. Clones
5. Starcrossed
6. Out Of The Blue
7. Renegade Cavalcade
8. Detonator
9. On A Wave
10. Won't Be Saved
11. Vampire Love
12. Shockwave
13. Solace
14. Cool It Down
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