Release Date: October 03rd 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats:CD/DD/Vinyl
Innervate / Obliterate - Tracklisting
1.Innervate / Obliterate
2.Ride
3.Chemical Warrior
4.Cut It Up
5.Tranquilized
6.2000 Years
7.Empire of the Swine
8.The Spire
9.Krakatoa
10.Mass Grave
11.Gnomeskull
Members
Joey Troupe - Guitar/Vocals
James May - Bass Guitar/Vocals
J.J. Young - Drums/Vocals/Percussion/Theremin
Review
Proto-Metal/Stoner Metal outcasts M.E.L.T. return with their latest album Innervate / Obliterate and it’s even weirder than their acclaimed 2023 album Replica Of Man which completely blew my mind with its epic shifts into different COSMIC arenas. M.E.L.T. continues with that style but offers a weirder, heavier and experimental mix of Fuzz Rock, Prog Rock, Proto-Metal, Doom Metal and Stoner Rock based freakouts. The band channels the likes of Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, FU MANCHU, Ty Segall and even PRIMUS on this record alone.
The album has a similar fast and loose narrative as Replica Of Man with the band moving into multiple different areas of creative storytelling with aggressive amounts of vibrant energy appearing with the classic Proto-Metal sounds. M.E.L.T. have a moody swagger moving through the golden era of HEAVY RAWK ‘N’ ROLL starting from the Sixties right up to the modern day scene. The record is fully at its best when they hit upon the musical stride and legendary sounds of Seventies Heavy Metal and the Nineties breakout Stoner Metal scene.
M.E.L.T. could have easily lost themselves with the multiple different sounds and outrageous melodies which becomes only stronger, braver and beautifully twisted throughout. The record perhaps leans into classic LED ZEPP, MONSTER MAGNET and FU MANCHU territory on the second half of the record but this is one great album that has eleven killer tracks offering different styles of music to impress listeners with.
Sure, it can be all over the place and way over the top but it’s M.E.L.T.’s dedication to the FUZZ ROCK cause that allows the sublime musical passages offer a gateway into another DOOMEDELIC DIMENSION where the freakouts become heavier, aggressive and brilliantly soulful.
The vocals from all three members all offer a different contrast to each other and you begin to realise that Joey, James and JJ are all trying to OUT DO each other whenever the opportunity arises. The majority of the vocals are part of the OLD SCHOOL of Rock Music with elements of Garage Rock and Proto-Doom being the main definitive of choice from M.E.L.T.
Standout tracks on the album for me are: Innervate / Obliterate, Ride, Chemical Warrior, Tranquilized, Mass Grave and Gnomeskull. The vibrant and twisted amounts of Space Rock energy allows a sordid and twisted Sludge Rock atmosphere to appear with the destructive Psychedelic melodies becoming heavily distorted at the same time.
Innervate / Obliterate is a delirious, dangerous and hypnotic slice of Psychedelic Stoner Rock which sees M.E.L.T. once again releasing another outstanding record to add to their impressive back catalogue.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Nate Cross Media for the promo.
Innervate / Obliterate Pangaea is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.
Links
Website: https://www.meltyourself.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/abandcalledmelt
X: https://twitter.com/abandcalledmelt
IG: https://www.instagram.com/meltyourself/
Bandcamp: https://abandcalledmelt.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gzPFf6sEdQT9BQzsjHUVY?si=8Jc_8fMrTL6Ov75NEZkiVA
