Review By Cerrin Hendricks (@panicpreacher)

Australian metalcore outfit Melting have just dropped their debut EP You Exist Because We Allow It, following up on their 2024 singles ‘874′, ‘Complex’ and ‘Modern Human Ritual’. 

Coming in at a breakneck pace with three singles in 2024, the band has already secured shows with big Australian names such as Thy Art Is Murder, Thornhill and Alpha Wolf. Their self-proclaimed brand of “Sonic Aggression” has started to turn heads and earn them some much deserved recognition in under a year, which is no small feat. 

‘Unwavered’ starts off the EP with a surprising level of ferocity, with a crushing metalcore and hardcore sound taken to the nth degree. Noisy riffs delivered by guitarist Alex Bertuna underscored by the intricate drums of Johnny Foti make for an explosive opening. 

The second track is ‘874′, the first single from the record released in 2024. Vocalist Xavier Morris brings pure malice to the chaos with a powerful vocal delivery and grim lyrics, adding layers to the feeling of betrayal and unadulterated hatred oozing out the track. Bassist Tom Kuyper stands out in this track with a tone designed to level cities. Guided By Hand Ov Witch And Corvid is the midpoint of the EP and takes the listener on a more atmospheric journey, punctuated by some of the heaviest parts of the album musically. The song switches from moody to venomous at the drop of a hat several times, with possibly the strongest chorus of the EP.

‘Into The Suffer‘ brings the record full circle, coming back to the sound present in the first two tracks. Even though the band is eclectic, the decision to create a set sound and style on this record with some detours has proven to be a winning formula. The combination of noisy riffs, violent vocals, thunderous bass and intricate drumlines mesh together perfectly. ‘Oblivion‘ is the shortest track on the record and acts as a short palette cleanser before the final course. This is however, not a track to be skipped as the heavy breakdown nature and use of clips make for an atmosphere clearly paying tribute to acts such as The Acacia Strain.  

The final track of the record ‘Perhaps This Is Hell’ allows Morris to truly shine, with a slower pace that keeps hitting you like slabs of concrete. His vocal delivery and poignant lyrics make for a powerful and emotional ending to this rollercoaster of a debut EP. Ending on a huge breakdown, it leaves the listener wanting more, a great sign for future records.

Melting have secured their place as one of the hottest rising stars in the metalcore world, with an immense EP and a clear thirst for the top. There is no doubt that we will be seeing a lot more of them, and that makes this reviewer extremely excited. 

9/10

You Exist Because We Allow It is available across all streaming services now.

You can listen here.