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Throwing my initial skepticism aside, I decided to give YOHIO's album a spin. Much to my surprise, what I found was something beyond my wildest dreams. The record begins with a tasteful intro track that immediately sets the epic and grandiose mood of the album. As soon as the dubstep break kicks in, we can feel his undying urge to "break the border" which can be attributed as the overarching concept of the whole release. Next, we are treated to a couple of powerful and immensely catchy visual rock tracks. The overall spirit of innovation is present throughout, as the artist breaks those borders that limit genre classifications, melding his art into something transcendental - it's a musical "REVOLUTION" (to quote the title of one of the more outstanding and totally not tired songs of the record). YOHIO shows us his versatility even more in the next segment (this album can easily be divided into separate thematic parts that make up a whole concept, but more about that later) that contains a more poppy type of music. Be it the infectuous power-pop of Heartbreak Hotel or the simply matchless never-before-heard intense beauty of Sakura, falling (penned together with Gackt, another maestro whose innovative song structures amaze us year after year now) YOHIO decides to conquer our hearts, taking no prisoners. Little do we expect the shocking continuation... The album takes a sudden darker turn with the arrival of the next track. INNOCENCE is like the unrelentingly aggressive yet captivating masterpiece MEJIBRAY or the DIR EN GREY guys have tried and tried but failed to conceive over the past years. When YOHIO screams, he screams for all of us, and we immediately make that connection subconsciously - a transcendental and almost religious experience/bond between artist and listener. This feeling is then heightened and pushed to the extreme on the next set of more emotional songs, of which the highlight is TIMESCAPE, a totally necessary and interesting piano instrumental. YOHIO continues with another instrumental number, this time showcasing his impeccable guitar skills. Seriously, for a moment I thought I was listening to Steve Vai but then I realized - YOHIO is the Steve Vai (Su...Suteibu Waii?) the Japanese market never had. Thus, in this sense BREAK the BORDER becomes much more than a mere album (however fascinating it might be): it is a cultural mission statement, a proclamation of creativity and the generous offer to hand down that exceptional creative streak to the thousands... no, millions who will surely be listening! Finally, the album closes with the ever-strong title track, concluding this fantastic musical journey. In conclusion, we can say that YOHIO's debut album is not only a flawless set of songs but a concept album chronicling the inner drive and torments of the artistic mind. The first segment (tracks 1-3) does what, indeed, is in the title of the album: it breaks down the borders with its unusually innovative approach. The second part (4-9) symbolizes the conflictual emotions and desires he carries, a genius bogged down by the mere earthly elements of this world, the artistic spirit forever tied to ever-fallible physicality that entraps it. After we have broken all borders what remains? This fascinatingly diverse musical "anarchy" is calmed and concluded by the ending segment (10-12) that delivers the message of purity and staying true to oneself. The artist is reborn like a phoenix from the ashes, and can begin his musical adventures anew, sometime, somewhere... A truly beautiful album if I ever heard one. This will no doubt be mentioned among the classics, when we take a look back a few decades later. Fooled ya? ;D Happy April 1st!

new band "ChamberLain" will hold their first demo live at Takadanobaba AREA at 2013/04/26 and their first formal live at Takadanobaba AREA at 2013/08/21 "ChamberLain" members: Vo.ハル(haru) (ex-和鶴-waduru--->DyIng messagE) Gt.Ryoya Gt.乱舞(ranma) (ex-med13on-->JILLS BLUE ROSES) Ba.ま祥(masaki) Dr.Taku http://chamber-lain.com/

i think also @zess was saying something similar. i have this feeling too. like the old songs maybe had more emotion. my general impression about most songs: i think they are good songs/remakes and i can enjoy listening to them! as long as you don't know the originals/forget the originals .because i think the originals are better. (and not because always the first are better. i have heard from bands enough remakes that are equal or even better but i don't feel it here) but i read randomly another person review and i am gonna quote that's ok life changes. my main disappointment and what bothers me more of all is just the chorus of final. and i wasn't gonna write a review but i am dying to say this so much so about the final the melody/rhythm in chorus it's not bad but knowing the lyrics ,the luck of emotion makes me sad. i don't know what he was trying to do?. why.?maybe he was trying to be more theatrical but he killed the emotion leaving a feeling maybe it's too old songs and he doesn't feel the same anymore the final unplugged it's like i am listening to musical .it's so theatrical. i think one of the most interesting characteristics of the new dir en grey is that generally is more theatrical and has this atmosperic feeling that can make you feel like you are inside a movie or some place else.(sorry my poor describing expressions but you get what i mean i hope) my favorite from the first disc is the unraveling . i like it ! but of course it's the same sound as dss macabre the second part is great as everyone said i agree random ( i like dss more than uroboros. i mean Vinushka is an epic song probably my most fav from both albums but dss has more songs i like than uroboros in amount. i don't get why most people seems to like and praise uroboros more is still a mistery to me .i just don't get it) (i don't see any difference in music since the change they had in uroboros and i don't think they are gonna change a lot for some time.the only difference i see is the feeling they seem to calm down the need of wanting to be so metal and experimental and hardcore and whatever i don't know how to describe.they seem they calm down and also more ok with their past.which looks good on them)

I thought this forum was so that we can review the releases made by the artists, not review the comments left behind by others? I'm not going to lie, I've only heard at least half of these songs before. I got into Japanese music back in 2010. Therefore, half of these songs are basically new songs to me. I can't exactly say whether they completely destroyed for me the original song with the new remake, I honestly have no problem with any of the songs here. The only thing that really brings me back to DSS is the guitars' effects, but I do feel like Unraveling might be a DSS leftover, even though it's still a good song and I loved DSS. Macabre is a freaking awesome song that I thoroughly enjoyed throughout it's entirety. I've always loved the unplugged versions of songs, so I was very pleased to find out that they did not have a certain "plain" quality to them where I would end up being bored. While I would have preferred a new CD with NEW material, I rather enjoy the remakes here and I am quite satisfied with this for now.