Melting - You Exist Because We Allow It (EP Review)

Melting - You Exist Because We Allow It
Released: May 2, 2025

Lineup

Xavier Morris | Vocals
Alex Bertuna |Guitar
Tom Kuyper | Bass
Johnny Foti | Drums

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It’s rare to see a band rise this quickly, but Melting aren’t your average metalcore act. After unleashing their debut single ‘Modern Human Ritual’ in June 2024, they’ve racked up tour slots with Thornhill, Alpha Wolf, and Thy Art Is Murder, and landed a deal with Greyscale Records—all in under a year. Big moves, and they’re just getting started. Brimming with potential, this Melbourne based act promises to be an act worth keeping your on as they offer us their debut EP to indulge in.

Without a second to spare, I press play on opening track ‘Unwavered’ and am met with aggressive undertones and the introduction of beefy instrumentals, along with vocalist Xavier Morris’s raw unclean vocals as he spits venom into the microphone with opening lyrics “The pavement never forgets”, which almost encourages me to strap in for the ride I am about to embark on. Tempo shifts, double kicks, intricate guitar riffs and sheer belligerence are the embers that set this EP opener ablaze, all while managing to breathe fresh life into what can sometimes be a stale genre. Topping it off is a ‘cherry on top’ breakdown which is a mosher's wet dream in every sense. Keeping the tempo high and the instrumentals tuned low, ‘874’ begins where the previous track finished. The short 2:17 song, which seemingly draws inspiration from the likes of Knocked Loose, shows no mercy with its balls-to-the-wall heaviness, formed by sludgy riffs, impressive drum fills, and a thematically dark subject matter littered throughout the lyrics, with every element complimenting each other exquisitely. Another more than welcomed breakdown brings this offering to completion, which gives me a moment to compose myself from the head banging and spin kicking before continuing any further.

Offering a different side to what we have seen from this quartet so far, ‘Guided By Hand Ov Witch And Corvid’ slows the pace of the EP, for the most part. But don’t be fooled, blastbeats and chunky riffs are still bound to grab you by your throat and hold your attention. Ebbing and flowing between a moody, melancholic chorus and heavy bursts throughout the verses, this offering guarantees to keep you on your toes from beginning to end. ‘Into The Suffer’ throws us back in the deep end, gasping for air as we’re immersed in a sound that doesn’t reinvent the wheel, or offer anything too dissimilar from what we have already heard on this EP. However, I wouldn’t say that's such a bad thing. The intricate guitar riffs from Alex Bertuna and Tom Kuyper, as well as Johnny Foti’s ability to hit his drums as if they owe him money, but in a precise and effective fashion continues to be tastefully refreshing and proves that this team produces a quality of work that could only be matched by a well-oiled machine. It’s fast, it’s heavy and it’s what Melting does best.

The EP’s shortest track, with a run time of only 1:23, ’Oblivion’, almost acts as one long drawn out breakdown, or multiple breakdowns, one after the next. The unmatched drumming of Foti stands as a highlight in this piece as his cymbal cops a beating amongst the cohesive efforts of his band mates. Topped with a handful of samples, this track is one that is not to be skipped, despite its short length. With the previous track having finished almost as quick as it started, I’m brought to the EP’s conclusion ‘Perhaps This Is Hell’ which slows the tempo down, and for a change, keeps it slow for the entire duration. Held back instrumentals gives Morris a moment in the limelight, as he shares a seemingly personal and profound message through the use of his lyricism. It almost wouldn’t be a melting track if they didn't sneak a hefty breakdown in at the end, which is exactly how this EP finishes.

‍Melting are on fire right now, and with the release of this stellar EP, there's no doubt that their path of an upwards trajectory will bring them to new heights. This is Melting’s world, and we’re just living in it - if you weren’t already aware, you soon will be.

Rating: 9/10
You Exist Because We Allow It is out May 2nd via Greyscale Records. Pre-order/save here
Review by Adam Rice @riceyadam