Music > Live Reviews

Melt-Banana

Norwich Arts Centre

07/06/17

It is a wet and windy – dare I say, wild and woolly – Tuesday night and it seems summer has already been and gone. Still, that doesn’t deter an enthusiastic crowd making their way to NAC for Japcore legends Melt-Banana. 

First up, it is the first time that I have seen Algae Bloom. Superficially, there is a resemblance to Slaves with the minimal set-up – just two drums, two cymbals, guitar and voice – but that is misleading. The sound is anything but minimal. Matt’s guitar is rooted in the post-rock likes of Explosions In The Sky whilst the shredded-throat vocals recall Tetsuya Fukagawa of noise legends Envy. Despite the minimal kit, there’s some intricate stuff from stand-up drummer Leigh. This is an intriguing mix of post-rock and hardcore and I will be keeping an eye out for these lads. 

Tonight is not the best set I have seen from Mega Emotion. The second half of the set is affected by a blown monitor and the mix is not ideal. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a good set. The trio take to the stage in matching robes - well, dresses, but robes sounds better - looking like a weird cult. Jan and Lisa throw themselves into things with irrepressible enthusiasm, whilst Ian and Jan’s guitars are heavier than I have heard from them before. There’s a new arrangement of B R A I N S that is, if anything, even more immense than what has gone before. City In Shapes, Luck Dragon and Uncomfortable rock like bastards. With new single OK Maybe OK, Mega Emotion manage to combine Massive Attack groove with Alien Sex Fiend creepiness – and that is a compliment in my book! – before closing with La Isla Bonita. Like I said, not their best set but thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.

Melt-Banana’s set is initially delayed by some technical issues but once those are resolved launch into what must be one of the most intense shows I have ever witnessed. I’ll be honest, I am here because I have been told how brilliant Melt-Banana are. I’ve never seen them before and, aside from a bit of YouTubing, have never even heard them before. I can’t tell you what they played and can’t give you any song titles. What I can say is that this combines Atari Teenage Riot, Ultraviolence, hardcore, gabba and Ramones-style speedy pop-punk and is as brilliant as I was told it would be.

The electronics are heavy-duty, almost punishing at times, Ichirou Agata’s guitar-playing is fast, fiery and crunching, Yasuko Onuki’s vox are like a rabid Chipmunks on speed. Whether I would listen to this at home is debatable but it is amazing in the live environment. Having been around for 25 years, it is amazing that Melt-Banana can keep up this intensity. Long may they continue.