Review: Black:List - MELANCHOLY

Black:List [site]
MELANCHOLY [download]
2008-05-24 | maxi single | 1890 ¥

I've never listened to Black:List before this single, but I know they just changed vocalists. The new vocalist is Kyotaru, from √eight. Pretty much everyone so far has like Ryo, their old vocalist more, but since I've never heard him before, I don't care XD

MELANCHOLY starts off the single. I know this song is a redone song with Kyotaru, and a lot of people don't like this version nearly as much. Truthfully, his voice didn't click right away for this song, but after a few listens, I love it. The intro flows well into the song, and the overall the song has a great smooth feel, only broken by Kyotaru's rough vocals. Great song. Oh, and I LOVE the synth in it.

grief is the second song on the single, and it's a much faster song than MELANCHOLY. WE also get to hear more of Kyotaru great screams, although other than his screams and growls, I don't like his voice too much in this song. The guitar is pretty good, I like the harsh tone it has. Surprisingly, one of my favorite parts of this song is the drumming. It's a good song with great screams but some poor singing.

Champ213 was awesome enough to include a rip of the PV "Throw hope away" from the DVD that was included with the single. This song is f-ing amazing. Reminds me of eight at thier very best. This song goes from hard to soft and back flawlessly. They should have included this as one of the song on the single, as it is easily the best song out of the three. If anything, just download it for this song alone.

Overall, a pretty good single. I will miss Kyotaru in √eight, cause Illational was amazing, but since I already kind of considered them dead (cause what, they were suppose to have a new album out by fall of last year?) it's great to see him in a band.

Rating: 4 out of 5

CD Review: And& - Tokage

And& [site]
Tokage [download]
2008-05-28 | maxi single

I just downloaded this single randomly. I didn't really have any hopes or expectations, but I went in knowing that they sound like old Gazette. After listening too it, holy poo, it sounds exactly like old Gazette! Unfortunately, to me that means some rather generic VK.

The first track, Tokage, starts off with a really cool synth intro (reminds me of Girugamesh). Sadly, the intro doesn't fit the song at all. It's a rather upbeat song with a kind of a punky feel. Over all, it feels very much like something Gazette would have come up with. That said, the vocals aren't even close to on par with Ruki's. Not saying they bad, it just makes seem like a Gazette song with a not as good vocalist, lol.

The Second song on the single, gishinaki, feels like a blatant attempt to copy Gazette. And I have to give them props for doing a pretty damn good job. The tone of the guitar, the distortion of the vocals, it's all there. While there is nothing original about this song, it still kicks ass. This song chugs along a a fast past and has some great screams. Although, I have the say that the band members return screams are pretty crappy, lol. ignoring the fact that this is such a Gazette rip off, it's a great song.

Tokage over isn't a bad single. If you like Gazette, check them out. On the other hand, if you don't, stay away from this band XD

Rating: 3 out of 5

CD Review: D'espairsRay - SQAULL

D'espairsRay [site]
SQUALL [download]
2007-03-14 | maxi single | 1365 ¥

I've been looking forward to this CD's release for some time and I was excited to find it up for download on Batsu. I snatched it and have been listening to it nonstop. Maybe it was worth the wait.

The title track, SQUALL, is something I wasn't expecting from D'espairsRay at all. It's poppy! Karyu's shines in this song and Hizumi voice is no slouch either. You won't find any screaming hear, but instead Hizumi shows us that he doesn't need to scream to make an awesome song. at the very beginning and near the end of there's some violins in the background that give it an epic sound. The production here is equally good. This is a very unexpected song from D'espairsRay, but an all around awesome song.

The next track, Desert, picks up with something of more traditional D'espairsRay flavor. Hizumi is back to his screaming again, but I wish it had a bit more raw sound to it, I think they added too much synth to it. The slower parts of this song are a bit lacking, but they're short so it doesn't get to boring. The second half of the song is what really does it for me, the song keeps a more constant pace. Not one of D'espairsRay's best songs, but it's still very good. Also, it lets us know that the old D'espairsRay hasn't left yet.

The final track, Screen, is once again something I never saw coming from D'espairsRay. Screen comes in the form of a haunting ballad. This song has slowly worked it's way into my heart. It starts of with Hizumi singing, with little background except some creepy background synth noises and a few light piano notes. The synth pics up and it sends you on your way through this awesome ballad. All the member except for Hizumi have seemed to disappear on this track. This may be the most different thing D'espairsRay has ever done, and I think they did an amazing job. I can see this song becoming one of my favorites... Reminds me a lot of Guniw Tools song Dearly Dark Nap.

A poppy song, a old fashion rocker, and a ballad. D'espairsRay have caught me off guard with single and I love it. I know I might be a bit easy on it here, but hey...

Rating: 5 out of 5