Melt-Banana have carved out a singular place in underground music since forming in Tokyo in the 1990s. The duo — Yasuko Onuki and Ichiro Agata — draw equally on noise, hardcore, grindcore and punk as on pop, electronics and experimental art music, creating a sound that defies genre classification.
Over an extensive discography and countless world tours they have earned near-legendary status, drawing admiration and collaborations from artists including John Zorn, Mike Patton, Melvins, Wire and Lou Reed.
Live, the band transform into an explosive force: Agata's guitar fires sound fragments in every direction while Onuki's distinctive vocals shift between shrill outbursts, rhythmic patterns and unexpectedly melodic passages, all anchored by a tight and precise digital rhythm section.
Their most recent album, '3+5' (2024), continues the uncompromising trajectory that has defined their career — still aggressive, still curious, and still pushing rock music to its outer limits.