The fiery bird gracing the cover of “Meltdown” like a phoenix rising from the Ash-es is fitting for the band’s current state.

After failing to break into mainstream America with their previous releases, the Irish band is pushing once again to make its way into our collective consciousness.

The artwork is also strangely reminiscent of a nu-metal band, accounting for their embrace of harder riffs on the record.

“Clones” and “Detonator” rock like a Godsmack or Disturbed song with heavy riffs before giving way to more familiar sing-along choruses. The heavy songs are like an Oreo cookie, with a hard and dark outside surrounding a sweet cream in the middle.

In the past, the strength of Ash’s songs relied on singer Tim Wheeler’s almost criminally catchy choruses. On “Meltdown,” the hooks just aren’t there. Lead single “Orpheus” lacks the punch that made a song like “Burn Baby Burn” so memorable.

There is, of course, the issue of the lyrics as well. With such deep insights as “Bang! I’m in love/Baby you’re the bomb,” you wonder how many sleepless nights Wheeler experienced trying to put his feelings into just the right phrases.

Hopefully the next album will rise above this mediocrity.