EP REVIEW: A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A LIFE BY MELTING
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Release date 29 May 2026
Melbourne heavy metal band Melting are not a metalcore “melting moments” type of musical experience. The band: Xavier Morris (vocals), Alex Bertuna (guitar), Tom Kuyper (bass), and Johnny Foti (drums) are about bringing black and heavy music back that is full of Aussie-dialect inflected sonic belligerence made locally in Victoria. The instrumentation is hard, octane-driven and aggressive as they “will be ones to say” how things go. The Extended Player (EP) ‘A Pathetic Excuse For A Life’ is their second release after their 2025 debut EP ‘You Exist Because We Allow It’, and it follows on from that earlier work in its intent.
Melting deliver ‘God Driven Fear’ as the opening track with a short guitar squall of feedback before machine gun fire drums rattle away at breakneck speed. The song does start to unwind as the band slows into a hard and heavy groove with heavy vocal fry vocals from vocalist Xavier Morris. The track, at 1 minute and 37 seconds, does not outstay its welcome and sets the tone for the rest of the EP. It’s dark, heavy, aggressive and rage-filled.
The following song is the new single ‘Glare’. The song is a barrage of drums, with interesting guitar riffs and screaming vocals buried underneath the mix and fighting to get out. ‘Glare’ has a claustrophobic grinding death metal sound that has a driving and sharp groove. It packs a sonic punch.
‘The Sword’ is a short and sharp assault of drums and guitar with a huge bassline groove dominating the one minute and six seconds, and is an EP highlight. Then, ‘Arrogant Fool’ follows, and it feels like it’s full of rage given expression through the vocals and the bassline rhythm. The breakdown in the track is done well as it leaves the listener in a state of anticipation before the drop. The chiming guitar at the end is beautiful. It’s clever!
There is a 43 second ‘…’ that leads into the closing song, and that chiming guitar is back with the thrum of the bass, the squalling guitar riff and drums. It, then, leads into big drum beats as the title track ‘A Pathetic Excuse For A Life’ is delivered. It’s shady, heavy, and slightly disturbing. The drumming is manic, the guitar matches it, but it’s the vocals that give the song a sense of rage as the rhythm changes and sways, a little like being punch drunk.
Melting have certainly delivered an EP that will excite death and heavy metal fans. The songs on this EP do require multiple listens as there is a lot going on in the instrument work. I suspect that seeing and hearing this band play live will be the test of the songs, they feel built for the live music experience and sweaty venues. Get along and experience!
