Almost two decades have passed since their formation, and Melt-Banana is still out for blood. With the release of Fetch, their first album in over six years, the duo has once again shattered the limitations of conventional form and function, busting boundaries to expose the madness that lies within. It’s glitchy, gutsy stuff, a unique strain of aural venom that’s impossible to replicate. “The Hive” is the first single to be released from the new LP, and it just might be the catchiest tune the band’s penned to date — that is, if you like your peppy pop-punk with a heavy dose of Walter White’s blue-meth madness. The verses fly in the face of Melt-Banana’s traditional, bajillion-BPM time signatures, strutting along at an unsettlingly casual pace. But then, of course, Yako and Agata kick it into turbo, delivering a digitally-distorted assault of blast-beats that reminds you, in the most punishingly way possible, that there is no comfort zone to be enjoyed with this band. This is a song that will kick your ass, spin you around until you puke, smile, giggle, and have you skipping back to the start, over and over. Call it a Hive-mind mentality.
Fetch is out October 1 via A-Zap records. Catch them on their US tour in October.
• Melt-Banana: http://www.geocities.jp/azaplink/mb/mxbx.html
• A-Zap: http://www.geocities.jp/azaplink/index.html
More about: Melt-Banana
