Hertfordshire band Maystones have released their third single of the year, ‘Meltdown.’ The track sees the five-piece ditch the lighter style of their previous single, ‘Shimmer,’ and return to the familiar heavier sound that has brought them recognition since their formation as teenagers.
‘Meltdown’ opens with a punky bassline riff before a shower of 90s-tinged shoegaze soundscapes emerges and gets things going. It’s over a minute and a half before frontman James Dowse greets us with his baritone vocals, which ruminate on destiny, faith, and the fundamentals of time.
Things are ramped up a notch as we approach the three-minute mark when Dowse announces that ‘this is the end of the quest’ before weeping guitar riffs and explosive waves of thrashing percussion work inundate the track. ‘Meltdown’ continues in this manner for the track’s remaining duration and the second half is a fine display of relentless alt-rock that leaves little breathing room.
The lyrics contain spiritual elements, ‘put your faith in something new’, and its theme of regret coincides neatly with the full-throttle nature of the track. However, at points, the songwriting feels shallow, like the words have been thrown together by a random rhyming generator, ‘with a face so blue why’s your house burning down with you’ and overly simplistic, ‘time will tell if I’m alright too.’
The track comes to a satisfying close with a brazen guitar solo. Throughout its six-minute duration Maystone takes you on a sonic journey, for a single of its length there is a distinct lack of baggage as every chord, riff and beat of the drum feels like it belongs. ‘Meltdown’ is an ambitious effort that for the most part pays off. The band promises that their best tunes are yet to be released and if this single is anything to go by the future is bright.
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