Pittsburgh’s MELT Airs Astounding New Spin, ‘Replica of Man’

Armageddon, religion, technology, shame and greed – here’s a band dealing with some heavy lyrical themes, and doing it with excellence. It’s prog-stoner metal trio MELT from the Steel City, and today they’re giving us an advance listen to the upcoming album, ‘Replica of Man’ (2023)

The album opens with narration from an interview long past from the incredible age of Pandora’s Box tampering that the 20th century was: “The concept of the thinking machine has been man’s dream for centuries, also his nightmare.” To accompany this roving commentary on creeping technocracy, the bass slaps out a wicked jazzy stoner groove with vivacity and conviction. By the time drums join in earnest, it feels like we’re in Prodigy territory, with metal vocals and doomy riffs. Recording engineer Nate Campisi takes great care in capturing a lusty sound from all of the instruments, and this serves as a captivating vessel for the message:

It fulfills the prophecy
Unstoppable technology
Steel has seized the upper hand
We concede as it commands
It’s too late to intervene
Mating man with machine
No forgiveness for the damned
Heed the replica of man

Indeed, we are several chapters deep into a fledgling Technological State and already the human animal is being stretched and contorted in ways that are alien to his nature, but somehow pleasing to the great labyrinth of circuits that make up our computers and smartphones. It’s no longer fodder for fun sci-fi blockbusters like Terminator, but an urgent question for our time as to what makes us truly thrive as human beings and how technology can assist us toward that end, not hurt us. Obviously, the band struck a chord with me straight away!

“It isn’t passive music,” remarks frontman Joey Troupe. “It has weight, inertia and leaves a mark. We are writing the soundtrack to global annihilation. That includes elements of destruction, despair, gratitude and sometimes, hope.”

Elsewhere on the album, the band conjures Lucifer’s Friend vibes on “Problem Child” and “Skeleton Girl” exhibits an infectious nu-metal energy – both captured within a cocoon of fuzzy low-end and performed with all the vibrancy of the garage experience. “Swamp Water” is a good, old-fashioned swampy stoner romp that would make a good companion to Weed Is Weed’s “Alligator Crawl.” And “Shame” would fit in great with the likes of Mudhoney and Coal Chamber.

The album closer is bathed in dank, watery shadows, with a grungy, forlorn bass groove. It’s called “Hive Mind” and lives in the neighborhood of Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard. The song is about how the secrets of life evade us because we’re stuck in rigid mindsets (“Sacrament is our demise”), and struggle to find a meaningful role in this artificial maze of concrete and asphalt (“Disguised by life, destroyed by time”). At least that’s my interpretation. As I said, the lyrics are thought provoking – but there’s no mistaking the last lines of the track:

We all seek a higher mind
So take your breath and blaze a fire
Take flight. Ignite. Leave them all behind

Melt’s Replica of Man is a virtuosic blend of influences, captivating themes, and crisp, joyful musicianship. Out Friday, July 7th (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Snail, GoodEye, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Null, and Deep Purple.

Give ear…

SOME BUZZ

Melt is a Pittsburgh-based fuzz rock band formed by Joey Troupe, J.J. Young, and James May – three seasoned musicians with a diverse range of experience in the music industry.

Joey Troupe (lead guitar/vocals) has played in various bands around the city since 2007, including Blackbird Pie, The Electric Pear, and Paddy the Wanderer — which released several LPs and EPs, toured regionally, and had a song featured on a Netflix series.

J.J. Young (drums) has played in or appeared with over 10 different musical projects, including Fortune Teller, Daisy Chain, and his own solo project, BITE. He is also a co-founder of Steel City Death Club, a Pittsburgh music multimedia collective.

James May (bass/vocals) started Aberrant Kingdom in 2008 and has also played with Spare Arrows. In July 2021, Melt released their self-titled debut and performed live for the first time, quickly making a name for themselves in Pittsburgh music for their lively stage presence and unique extraterrestrial-inspired aesthetic.

Since, the band has headlined shows across the region, been named the WYEP Artists of the Week, held a featured spot on the Deutschtown Music Festival mainstage, and opened for Silver Synthetic of Third Man Records. Their second studio album, Replica of Man, will be released July 7, 2023.