Line #37 Music/MeltBanana


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/melt_banana.jpg]]
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3	Melt Banana (stylized as [=MxBx=] and Melt-Banana) is a Japanese experimental rock band formed in 1991. Easily recognizable by their extremely fast and energetic {{Grindcore}} music combined with elements of NuMetal, AlternativeRock, ElectronicMusic (especially HarshNoise and {{Industrial}}), PunkRock, dance music and JapanesePopMusic in a similar manner to bands such as Music/MrBungle and Music/FaithNoMore, the distinctive musical chemistry between frontwoman/founder Yasuko Onuki and lead guitarist/co-founder Ichirou Agata, and their dual persona as a band ([[LighterAndSofter Melt Banana Lite]] and [[DarkerAndEdgier Melt Banana Regular]]), they are one of the most prominent and prolific Japanese rock bands in the active scene.
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5	Originally a musical project by Yasuko Onuki called "Mizu", the band began to come together with the arrival of Ichirou Agata and bassist Rika Hamamoto in 1991. In 1992 the project was renamed "Melt Banana". In 1993, the band opened for KK Null, frontman of Japanese metal band Zeni Geva, who was impressed enough to sign them to his label, and introduce them to Mark Fischer of Skin Graft Records. However, the band has not had an official drummer, ever since their first drummer left shortly after their conception as Mizu. As of 2018, the band also lacks a bassist, with Rika Hamamoto quitting in 2013.
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7	Since their formation, they have released eleven studio albums and 23 extended plays (mostly split albums with other bands). They have toured with Music/MrBungle, Music/{{Melvins}}, Music/{{Tool}} and Music/{{Fantomas}}, have worked with acclaimed grindcore band Music/DiscordanceAxis ([[SpecialGuest their drummer Dave Witte has worked with them!]]) and legendary experimental musicians Music/MikePatton and Music/{{Merzbow}}.
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9	!!Discography
10	* (1994) ''Speak Squeak Creak''
11	* (1994) ''Cactuses Come in Flocks''
12	* (1995) ''Scratch or Stitch''
13	* (1998) ''Charlie''
14	* (1999) ''[=MxBx=] 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity''
15	* (2000) ''Teeny Shiny''
16	* (2003) ''Cell-Scape''
17	* (2005) ''13 Hedgehogs ([=MxBx=] Singles 1994–1999)''
18	* (2007) ''Bambi's Dilemma''
19	* (2009) ''Melt-Banana Lite Live Ver 0.0''
20	* (2013) ''Fetch''
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22	----
23	!!Melt Banana provides examples of the following tropes:
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25	* CarefulWithThatAxe[=/=]CreepyChildrenSinging - While Yasuko's [[MetalScream vocals]] aren't particularly harsh, she has a penchant for really, really high-pitched, CreepyCute vocals that come right the fuck out of nowhere.
26	* [[AvantGardeMetal Experimental Metal]]
27	* GenkiGirl: Yasuko Onuki during live performances.
28	* GenreBusting: Their music doesn't really fit in any particular genre. Good luck try to figure out what kind of music they play, as they draw from so many influences that are so far off from their already [[AvantGardeMetal bizarre sound]].
29	* GratuitousEnglish
30	* {{Grindcore}}: Started out as this, though they still play music in this style as Melt-Banana Regular.
31	* HarshVocals - Maybe not as harsh as Kyo of Music/DirEnGrey, Music/MariaCross or Soichiro "Ume" Umemura of Music/TokyoYankees, but Yasuko's singing is still fairly harsh for J-rock.
32	* InTheStyleOf: The drums on ''Cell-Scape'' were programmed to emulate the style of [[Music/MunicipalWaste Dave]] [[Music/DiscordanceAxis Witte]], who has played live session drums for them at various points.
33	* LeadBassist: Rika Hamamoto is a Type D.
34	* LighterAndSofter: As Melt-Banana Lite.
35	* LongRunnerLineup: Yasuko Onuki, Rika Hamamoto and Ichirou Agata have been the band's official members from the very start. The drummer slot, however, [[RevolvingDoorBand tells a different story]]...
36	* ManOfAThousandVoices - Yasuko is arguably the best-known female example of this trope in experimental metal; while her main singing style consist of mostly childish clean vocals, she can also do high-pitched squealing a la Music/MariaCross, "banshee" shrieks, chirps, barks, {{Scatting}} similar to what [[Music/{{Korn}} Jonathan Davis]] does, the occasional pseudo-gutturals, and [[MotorMouth extremely fast rapping]] typical of NuMetal bands.
37	* MetalScream: The first thing you hear in their version of "White Christmas".
38	* MinisculeRocking - A lot of their songs are fewer than two minutes long.
39	* OutOfGenreExperience: "Zero" from ''Fetch'', despite its [[ClassicalMusic neoclassical]]-style intro, is full-on pop rock.
40	* PissTakeRap - Yasuko. [[MotorMouth She's really good at it, though]].
41	* RevolvingDoorBand: The drummer slot, at least. Website/TheOtherWiki has a list of all the band's known drummers.
42	* SopranoAndGravel - More like Banshee and GenkiGirl, but she has surprisingly good cleans on par with many notable J-pop singers.
43	* TheUnintelligible - Yasuko Onuki's English lyrics come out completely mangled by her thick accent and fast vocal delivery.
44	%%* WordSaladLyrics

Context Music / MeltBanana