UNDERNEATH the calm, mild-mannered exterior that is Tim Wheeler burns a fire that rages, writes Kieran Fox.

It must. How else do you explain such an inferno of an album that is Meltdown, the fifth long-play offering from Ash?

His soft northern Irish lilt belies a God-given talent for writing thrashy guitar anthems that have kept Ash at the burning edge of British music for the last ten years.

Yes, it really was ten years ago that fresh-faced 17-year-old Tim, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray, from Downpatrick, burst on to the music scene at the height of Britpop with Jack Names the Planets.

Five albums, several smashes, a few misses and a new band member (Charlotte Hatherley) later and many of their early contemporaries have either burnt out or given in to the ravages of time.

But not Ash. Despite their experience, Tim, 27, is still finding inspiration - and this time it's political. Tim describes the reasoning behind the title-track of the album.

"It was influenced by the peace march I went on last year," he said.

"I've never written a political song like that before but I couldn't help it.

"We've always been inward-looking and personal. This album turned into something different. It's got more songs about society, it's more outward-looking.

"It's a heavier record but not too heavy. It shouldn't alienate our long-term fans."

How is it we've heard precious little from the band for the last two years and yet they burst back on to the scene with Meltdown, which has already singed a hole in the album charts?

"We've been in America for the whole time," Tim explains.

"We spent most of the time since 2002 on the road over there and the reaction has been really good. We can sell enough tickets for a slightly larger gig now.

"Going to America really influenced this album."

Gone are the early influences of Elastica and Nirvana. But there is little hint from Tim of pausing to look back through rose-tinted glasses.

Ash's secret of longevity is reincarnation and although not exactly a rebirth, Meltdown sounds as fresh as the spark touching the blue paper.

He has found inspiration from a new music scene, including Southampton's Delays.

"I really like Delays. I've bought their album and it really sounds great. They've got a real melodic gift. I can see them really developing into something big.

"Franz Ferdinand are great and I'm looking forward to the Bees record. They're from the Isle of Wight aren't they?"

While many bands with five albums tucked away in their discography would be sitting pretty on top of their cash pile surveying all that aspire to be them, Tim and his cohorts are still at the coalface unearthing a few more pop-rock diamonds.

There is no time for talk of tea and slippers, there is a job to be done.

On the subject of taking life a little easier, Tim says: "It's not going to happen. We are playing the best we've ever played.

"If we can keep it interesting on a musical front then that remains to be seen."