Whilst I’m somewhat of a fan of the Japanese rock scene, I find there’s a small gap between generic dullness and far-too-far out there madness that I enjoy. For example, the newest Dir En Grey album Uroboros (which I reviewed) was very progressive but still maintained some of the intensity of the Visual Kei style.
One album that I have always loved is D’EspairsRay – Mirror. It’s a fantastic industrial heavy rock album, with similarities in places to both Rammstein in terms of power and use of electronic sounds, but they still maintained a rock rather than metal styling – comparisons to lighter X JAPAN and L’Arc~En~Ciel spring to mind, especially with vocals.
The band have gone through an undeniable change with this new album. Firstly there is no doubt they are making more mature music than before – the most obvious example is PARADOX 5, a fantastic mid tempo ballad (I never thought I’d call a mid-tempo balance fantastic…) with all sorts of Eastern European sounding influences. It starts off a bit slow, and it will definitely not impress die hard fans of their older material too much, but it’s a refreshing sound from a band who’s sound could quite easily have gone stale.
Actually, that has happened a bit. Despite branching out a bit there are still some ‘rock by numbers’ tracks here. Title track REDEEMER and single BRILLIANT are both examples of this. They’re not bad by any stretch, but I can’t help but feel we’ve heard it all before. Overall however the album doesn’t suffer from this. 琥珀 (Kohaku) and 夜空 (Yozora) are both fantastic, up beat examples of why this band are getting so much international attention. The album definitely doesn’t disappoint, it just took the logical step it needed away from the previous album, but possibly not in the way people wanted.
Now if you’ve ever talked to me about this band, you’ll know I believe they have one song they simply will never top. Kaleidoscope from the Mirror album is a mind blowing piece of work – it’s the best song they’ve done by a million miles. So when I was listening I was desperate to find something that even came close. Now both Paradox 5 and 夜空 impressed me, but the problem with this album I’m finding is that it mostly merges together. I really hope this band isn’t stagnating and running out of ideas. This is still enjoyable music, it just feels like it would have been tighter on a 5 track EP. Still, consider me impressed, I hope the album grows on me over time, and I recommend it to anyone who’s heard Mirror and enjoyed it. If not, start there.
Possibly Related Content:
Have you heard coll:set? It’s the album before Mirror, I think it’s their best. I agree that the new album is not as good as mirror though. You’re right there’s no classics like Squall.
I loved the new album, it’s my favourite of theirs now. Infact the only song I didn’t like was REDEEMER.
I think you need to give it more listens, but to be honest I loved this album from the first time I heard it!
Paul: I’ve not heard coll:set, I’ll check it out.
D’EspairsGirl: I’ll give it a few more tries. I just find most of the album too similar. Paradox 5 and 夜空 are definitely the best so far :)
The only part of this review I agree with is the first paragraph. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, yes. Personally, mine is that you have no place making broad claims like “I believe they have one song they simply will never top. Kaleidoscope from the Mirror album is a mind blowing piece of work – it’s the best song they’ve done by a million miles” without having heard anything they’ve released beforehand.
As a die hard fan of this band for six years now, I DO think PARADOX 5 is a stunning, ambient piece – an unwitting homage to the musical project VAST, if you ask me. Easily one of the better songs the album has to offer, BECAUSE it’s so out there, so unlike them, so refreshing, and so melancholy. It is fantastic.
夜空? Consesus suggests it’s the most disliked song on the album, for good reason. Not only should you give this album a few more listens, but educate yourself. Indulge in their earlier releases, from as far back as their first singles and mini-albums. Overall, the review comes across as incomprehensive, presumptuous and… lackluster.
Lorena: With all due respect, this is a review of an album. Reviewers who work for music magazines are employed to give a review balanced to their readership. However as this is a personal blog I’m allowed to state what I feel.
With that in mind, I’m glad you like PARADOX 5. I’m suprised at 夜空’s unpopularity, I think it’s nice and tightly written.
I apologise you don’t like my review and if you find it ‘incomprehensive, presumptuous and… lackluster’ then again apologies, but not liking a track because ‘consensus suggests it’s the most disliked song on the album’ is not really logical, surely?
I have to agree with Mike that he is entitled to write what he wants on a blog that provides a free service for us readers! I don’t like Sozora either though.
Dear Mike, I’m aware it’s a review of one album (although you brought up a past release, anyway). I also didn’t say “you should not have reviewed this.” Or “you have no right to review a D’espairsRay” album, I said you really didn’t have a place making broad references about a (past!) album/song, claiming them to be the best the band has ever released, one “they simply will never top,” word for word, sir, without a) listening to earlier works and b) reviewing MIRROR. That, truly, was my only issue with the review as a whole. You are, of course, entitled to write what you will, -I- just thought it wasn’t altogether fair.
Also, incomprehensive was directed at both the lack of knowledge (interest, perhaps? I wouldn’t know) in previous releases, and how little you talked about other tracks on the album you WERE reviewing. What did you think of Lizard, track number one? Lost in re:birth? MASQUERADE?
I was, personally, disappointed because I enjoy your various other reviews. I thought this one could have been better.
There were so many mistakes in my response I can’t even begin to admonish. Ah well. No harm, no foul.
Lorena that makes more sense thanks for clarifying. I’m going to give the album a few more listens and do a more thorough review. Reading through this one I agree with you it could be more concise. Apologies I didn’t understand you before :)
Thanks !!
Can you review “Janne Da Arc – D.N.A” album ? it’s great one !
Nitta: If I can get hold of it I’ll try it out :)