Melt-Banana: reviews, noise, and high‑velocity essentials

Melt-Banana

Musical Group

Forfans of noise rock, experimental punk, and the japanese underground; curious listeners who enjoy fast, abrasive, inventive music.
5 Reviews 1 Definitions 1 Charts

The Profile

Melt-Banana is a Tokyo-based noise rock/noisecore band formed in 1992 by vocalist Yasuko Onuki (Yako) and guitarist Ichirou Agata. Known for ultra-fast songs, shrill vocals, and heavily processed guitar textures, they have released influential albums and toured internationally.

Formed in Tokyo in 1992 by Yasuko Onuki (vocals) and Ichirou Agata (guitar). Key albums include Speak Squeak Creak (1994), Scratch or Stitch (1996), Teeny Shiny (2000), Cell-Scape (2003), Bambi's Dilemma (2007), and Fetch (2013). They are renowned for rapid tempos, inventive noise textures, and intense live shows; they recorded a Peel Session in 1999.

Five DeBaser reviews paint Melt-Banana as a frenetic, inventive Japanese noise-rock/noisecore act. Cell-Scape earns strong praise for cohesion and hooks, while the debut Speak Squeak Creak is tagged fun but slight. Scratch or Stitch is lauded as an extreme, intelligent rush. A Bologna 2005 report celebrates their blistering live power. A 7'' split salutes their riotous Tintarella di Luna cover.

Notable Quotes

❝ this little album here is a stunning adrenaline rush, bearing the marks of definitive artistic maturity.

❝ No, seriously, no bullshit: masterpiece.

❝ Listening to Melt Banana is like rocking on a rowing boat while suffering from seasickness.

❝ the Japanese undertake to eliminate any emo kid inside the venue with maniacal precision.

❝ The 'noisecore' that results is seasoned with a generous dose of shrill and incredibly fast Japanese voice, anime-style, which accompanies us throughout the album, drawing more than a few smiles...