Melt-Banana is a frenetic, genre-defying band from Tokyo that blends noise rock, hardcore punk, and experimental electronics into a sonic blitz unlike anything else. Vocalist Yasuko Onuki’s rapid-fire delivery pairs with Ichiro Agata’s wildly manipulated guitar tones—think high-pitched squelches, digital chaos, and looped distortion—all crammed into songs that often last less than two minutes. Their music is relentless, kinetic, and intentionally abrasive, pushing the boundaries of punk and noise into surreal territory. The band’s DIY attitude and underground ethos helped them build a cult following, especially among fans of avant-garde and experimental music.
Their visual aesthetic is just as daring—bold, surreal, often evoking cyberpunk chaos, which fits right in with their unpredictable sound. Since reconfiguring as a duo in 2013, they’ve leaned harder into electronic textures and drum programming, broadening their creative scope while retaining their signature intensity. Albums like Fetch and 3+5 showcase how they’ve grown without compromising their eccentric flair. Whether they’re sharing a bill with Tool or diving into anime-inspired visuals, Melt-Banana represents pure artistic freedom, constantly mutating and refusing to sit still.
