"Meltdown" was released through Infectious Records on 17 May 2004. The album cover shows a tattoo-stylized phoenix rising from flames. Its booklet features liner notes written by author JT LeRoy. A special edition double CD version was released in the UK, with the second disk consisting of live recordings from their UK tour earlier in the year. Two versions were released in Japan: one that added "Tinsel Town" and "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" to the main album, while the other added extra live recordings to the UK special edition live disc.