Exist trace - Yes, this time they are all girls :D
Release date : 15th May
Price: 2500yen (12qui-dish)
5 track CD and Free DVD containing the "Alkaloid showcase" PV
VISIT: http://www.myspace.com/matenrouopera2007, and matenrou-opera.info/
Review:
1. Plastic cell - Great opening, I love the piano and crunchy palm muted guitars at the beginning, and the quite headbangable riff, this song, much like the others show off the EPIC voice of the vocalist Sono, his singing voice is absolutely amazing, it has amazing range, from raspy or throaty growl, to operatic sustained notes, especially in this song at the end of the chorus (at about 1:58).The mixture of ethereal piano and rockin' guitars sit together really well. the solo is not one of those freakin' ridiculous dragonforce poo speed solos, but it is certainly well thought out. The last note he sings at the end is brilliant.
2. Alkaloid Showcase - A rerecording of an earlier song, with the music vid on the DVD. To be quite honest his ability has progressed noticably since the original, but I still prefer the original, it sounds more raw, and in this version theyve put slightly different synth-ey bits in. The second verse as well, (the one with growled vocals in the background) just isnt as well done in my opinion. It isnt a bad song by any means, but not the best on the CD. The video is Ok for a 1st video, mainly them playing in a warehouse thing, with occasional shots of Manhatten skyscrapers (matenrou means skyscraper).
3. Twilight Parade - This is definately my favourite of the lot, Im an absolute sucker for bridges like this. (1:05- 1:20ish) The opening riff however isnt particularly good, but once it gets started, boy does it get good, only to calm down with drums and bass for the verse, sung very precisely. Then the bridge OMG it is so amazing, they shouls do an entire song like that it would rock my socks off. The chorus is the typical high reaching vocal showing off, which as usual is good, but I don't think chorus' are this bands strength, it lies more in the vocals, guitar and in the bridges. The solo is excellent, impecable, and fades out well into a small instrumental, leading to another bridge YAY!!!! More awesomeness, then the chorus again.
4. Sara - We all knew it would come somewhere, this is the Epic ballad of this album, good start and guitar work, the verses are ok, they seem to drag a little, but they end so well, with guitar coming in while sono holds the last few notes of the verse, which is connected to the next via a little solo. The chorus in this song is definately a candidate for the best on the CD, one complaint is that it could have done with a twilight parade like bridge :D. His vocals during the solo are brilliant complimenting the guitar well. Dont think it needed to be 6 and a half minutes though.
5. 虚空殻の手紙 - The last song on the CD, uses a harmonica, lol, but ill admit it does work to some extent, it still would have worked without it, but its ok. Another balladey sort of song, with more guitarless stanza's (yes i have eaten a dictionary XD) But the second verse is great as it actually has guitar running through it, followed by a bridge with the harmonica, and truth is i like it a lot. The final stand, as it were,makes a fitting end to the album.
Overall this is a very good CD, if you are new to them i recommend the european version, about the same price, but you get three extra songs, from their previous single, i got the japanese version, because I had them anyway.
This is a very promising band, with epic vocals, varying song styles, the vocalist being their main strength, which really make them stand out. Saying that i think they need to work on bass work, perhaps bringing some bass solos, and making brilliant gazette-like bass riffds, instead of only playing the root notes of the guitar chords.
Im gonna give this album a: 7.5/10
One question, why, when you toured europe last month DID YOU NOT COME TO THE UK! You gave those lousy frogs 3 gigs, thanks...
well, as a treat for you, ill link the alkaloid showcase video to give you a taste of their skillz:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1cHNDjnBeRc
(because this crappy thing wont let me post the video)
Next up is:
Brilliant - D'espairsRay
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=POCE-14103
Style - Gothic/Industrial Rock/Metal
1000yen - about £4.50
1. Brilliant - Now, the usual D'espairsray stuff is dark and twisty metal/rock stuff, but this single has turned the distortion down slightly and gone for a more rock angle. After the quite confusing few seconds at the beginning where it sounds quite jumbled, Hizumi's voice kicks in, for the typical DR verse, followed by a similar chorus, I really like the little interludes between the chorus and the verse. It is almost brilliant. the break down certainly is and is absolutely amazing. It is a very catchy song and a good comeback single from the boys after being quiet after releasing their last album MIRROR a year ago. it’s only a very near miss to a new and truly great D’espairsRay classic.
2. Cocoon - Decent intro, the verses sound kinda like KoRn in a way, But the chorus way more than makes up for that, they are like the singles title, brilliant, as are the bridges. hizumi brings a mixture of growls, shouts and singing into the fray here and it all makes for one hell of a song, if only the verses were slightly better.
A very solid single from DesRay. It could have been improved by having more to it, maybe another b-side, a live song or a PV, but cant complain.
7/10
Ill do more reviews tomorrow, these two have take like 45 minutes lol...
Sadie- Crimson tear to look forward to.
