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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Meltdown
by Ash


8.1

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 15 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The veteran Irish trio return with a rock-oriented affair, their fifth studio disc overall.

LABEL:	Record Collection / Infectious
RELEASE DATE:	08 March 2005
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release 17 May 2004.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Playlouder

Great pop from a great band.

Dot Music

“Meltdown” is a sturdy, well-written and (perpetually adolescent lyrics aside) mature addition to Ash’s enduring and near-essential canon – ample reward for ten years’ loyal support.

Mojo

Retains the gum-tingling pop harmonies and guitar-throttling riffs of previous albums, but their reedy punk sinew has swollen into rock muscle. [Jun 2004, p.112]

Q Magazine

Ash have turned in a bullish and cocksure fifth studio album to delight the faithful. [Jun 2004, p.95]

Amazon.com

Meltdown is easily Ash's best album since 1977; this is the sound of a band becoming interesting again. [Amazon UK]

Drowned In Sound

This is Ash ready for stadiums, standing their ground and treating us to the kind of rock their heroes made.

All Music Guide

A surprisingly strong and assured record.

Neumu.net

If you're a fan of tuneful, American-influenced pop-punk, Ash are waiting to burn a hole through your heart.

Alternative Press

Noisy pop-punk that's bratty with pogoing entitlement. [Apr 2005, p.124]

Under The Radar

The band's melodies continue to be undeniable, but when guitar solos are added to the mix, the combination is electric. [#9]

Logo

A below par effort by their high standards.

Pitchfork

Sadly missing here is Ash's sense of vulnerability, a key element to their charm.

Entertainment Weekly

Meltdown gets stuck in a hard-rock rut. [11 Mar 2005, p.104]

PopMatters

Ash manage to connect more often than not, and when the songs do work, the riffs and hooks achieve a surprisingly effective balance.

The Guardian

A straight-ahead rock album that already sounds like a festival set list in waiting.

Stylus Magazine

Ultimately, Meltdown isn’t as dramatic a failure as its title seems to be begging me to pronounce it--in fact it isn’t really a failure at all. It’s just a crucial dip in momentum.

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

matt a gave it a9:
Overall, a great album and an amazing singles album. Just as good and maybe even better than the much-hyped Free All Angels

Timothy F gave it an8:
A lot harder than the last. More mature than those before. It fits.

Thomas W gave it a9:
very strong songs, Detonator being best ...interested to see if the guys kick on for next LP

henrik gave it a7:
Very energetic songs; like most of them - some are a little pathetic. But all in all it's a round album that rocks big time.

Luca S gave it an8:
A big surprise.Their best album since 1977.

Barry S gave it a10:
Free All Angels was a classic. This would beat it in a fight!

Joe C gave it an8:
Puts most British rock bands firmly in their place

Meltdown by Ash

Meltdown
by Ash