Description
Ash – Meltdown / Infectious Records Audio CD 2004
UPC 5050467319721
Meltdown is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 17 May 2004, through Infectious Records. Following the success of their third studio album, Free All Angels (2001), the band debuted several new songs on tour throughout 2003. By October, they travelled to Los Angeles, California to record the follow-up. Co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band, the sessions were held at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, and Chalice Studios in Hollywood. Described as an hard rock album, Meltdown drew comparison to the Smashing Pumpkins, with guitarwork that recalled acts such as Black Sabbath and Metallica.
"Clones" was released as the lead single in late February 2004, coinciding with a European tour, and a UK club tour. The second single "Orpheus" appeared in May, alongside another UK tour. Third single "Starcrossed" was released in July; over the next few months, the band appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, embarked on a European tour, and supported the Clash on their UK tour. With the release of the fourth single "Renegade Cavalcade" in December, the band toured Japan and the US twice. The second stint coincided with the fifth single "Meltdown" in May 2005.
Meltdown received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom commented on the band members' musicianship. The album peaked at number 5 in the UK and Scotland, and number 6 in the band's home country of Ireland. Outside of these areas, it charted in Australia, Austria, Germany, and Norway. Meltdown was certified gold in the UK. All of the singles, bar "Meltdown", reached the top 40 in the UK and Ireland, with "Clones" peaking the highest at number 12 in Ireland.
- Label: Infectious Records – 5050467319721
- Format: CD, Album
- Country: UK
- Released: 2004
- Genre: Rock
- Style: Alternative Rock, Pop Rock
Tracklist:
| 1 | Meltdown | 3:24 | |
| 2 | Orpheus | 4:16 | |
| 3 | Evil Eye | 3:26 | |
| 4 | Clones | 4:00 | |
| 5 | Starcrossed | 4:50 | |
| 6 | Out Of The Blue | 3:24 | |
| 7 | Renegade Cavalcade |
3:26 | |
| 8 | Detonator | 3:38 | |
| 9 | On A Wave | 4:27 | |
| 10 | Won't Be Saved | 3:41 | |
| 11 |
Vampire Love
Cello – Oli Kraus
Cello – Oli Kraus
|
3:45 |
- Bass – Mark Hamilton
- Co-producer – Ash
- Design – Craig Gentle, Mark Hamilton
- Drums – Rick McMurray
- Engineer [2nd] – Kevin Szymanski, Miles Wilson (2)
- Guitar, Backing Vocals, Piano – Charlotte Hatherley
- Guitar, Vocals – Tim Wheeler
- Illustration ['Orpheus' Illustration] – Jim Fitzpatrick
- Illustration [Tribal Illustrations] – Rori Keating
- Liner Notes – Jt LeRoy
- Mastered By – Howie Weinberg
- Mixed By – Rich Costey
- Mixed By [Mix Assistant] – Claudius Mittendorfer
- Photography By [Band] – Adrian Boot
- Photography By [Studio] – Matt Sharp
- Producer, Engineer – Nick Raskulinecz
- Recorded By – Mike Terry (2)
- Technician [Drum Tech] – Jon (13)
- Technician [Session Guitar Tech] – Bobby Schneck
- Written-By – Charlotte Hatherley (tracks: 1), Mark Hamilton (tracks: 6), Tim Wheeler
Ash
- Tim Wheeler – guitar, vocals
- Rick McMurray – drums
- Mark Hamilton – bass guitar, design
- Charlotte Hatherley – guitar, backing vocals, piano
Additional musicians
- Oli Kraus – cello (track 11)
Production
- Nick Raskulinecz – producer, engineer
- Ash – co–producer
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Mike Terry – recording
- Claudius Mittendorfer – mix assistant
- Miles Wilson – second engineer
- Kevin Szymanski – second engineer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
Design
- Matt Sharp – studio photography
- Adrian Boot – band photography
- Rori Keating – Tribal illustrations
- Jim Fitzpatrick – 'Orpheus' illustration
- JT LeRoy – liner notes
- Craig Gentle – design
