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Meltdown Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

  • Summary: The veteran Irish trio return with a rock-oriented affair, their fifth studio disc overall.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Alternative Press
    80
    Noisy pop-punk that's bratty with pogoing entitlement. [Apr 2005, p.124]
  2. “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.
  3. A surprisingly strong and assured record.
  4. 70
    A below par effort by their high standards.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Meltdown gets stuck in a hard-rock rut. [11 Mar 2005, p.104]
  6. 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.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. BarryS
    Jan 12, 2005
    10
    Free All Angels was a classic. This would beat it in a fight!
  2. hghgfhgffh
    Aug 5, 2004
    10
    fucking amazing
  3. abodiginalpete
    Nov 24, 2004
    10
    absolutely f-n wicked....the tracked are simply stunning
  4. LucaS
    Mar 15, 2005
    8
    A big surprise.Their best album since 1977.
  5. Oct 13, 2011
    8
    In trying to follow up their number 1 hit album Free All Angels, Ash went
    for a heavier sound this time round. An album that really deserved
    In trying to follow up their number 1 hit album Free All Angels, Ash went
    for a heavier sound this time round. An album that really deserved more
    success and recognition than it got. While it doesn't have the same volume
    of radio hits as Free All Angels or 1977, as a whole album it's arguably
    the bands strongest. Some great guitar work going on while Dave Grohl was
    reportedly a major fan of Rick McMurrays drumming on the album. Perhaps the
    reason for its commercial underperformance slipping off the radar was that
    it was caught between being too heavy for Ash's core fans and having too
    much pop melody going on to attract in the rock element.
    Expand
  6. TimothyF
    Apr 8, 2005
    8
    A lot harder than the last. More mature than those before. It fits.
  7. jtone
    Jul 23, 2004
    0
    Shit's weak.

See all 14 User Reviews