cant i agree more
i mean i do tend to have an open mind (unless its like drastic vk with girly makeups and ridiculous dresses from some mediocre renaissance period)
but at the same time i do agree that wataru's performance isnt as polished like he used to in the indie ages ,
but he DO sing, altho its a production record where he can try as many times as he wants to reach his favorable pitch and notes .
01 - 斑 : 01/05 - it wasnt anything special but it wasnt that horrible either . but nothing to mention .
02 - SUICIDE : 03/05 - decent "12012-ish wataru style" chorus . but i do admit wataru's growls are not something you want keep listening to
03 - BAAL-ZEBUL : 02/05 - the only part i want to point out is the wataru's background vocal during chorus . besides , nothing special
04 - ABUSE : 03/05 - i really liked the chorus , i mean lingering between notes was a nice melody !
05 - 睡蓮 : 04/05 - altho the intro reminded me of old school girugamesh but hell, and the piano solo seemed to be replaced from a guitar solo , but sill nice !
06 - 蛇舌 : 02/05 - nothing special besides wataru's high pitched vocals ?
07 - 艶 : 05/05 - maybe its my best pick from album . i like this melodical grieving guitar riffs . the vocal works are flowing pretty nice too, no drastic breaks .
08 - HESITATION : 02/05 - i dunno but i got to say that this song reminded me of dir en grey a lot . especially background guitar riff that looks like been chopped off from repetition of hatred of dir en greys and all over .
09 - FERO CIOUS : 02/05 - catchy verse but else , , , nothing special to mention
10 - HIDE & SEEK : 05/05 - my second bick , altho the structure or the flow reminds me of different sense of dir en grey , typical rush through and chorus breaks . still nice chorus . and also , i like this kind of chorus where the drum loops run around together with the vocals and guitars
11 - MADMAN : 02/05 - it almost sounded dead tired version of rentrer en soi satsuki voice but im sure wataru wasnt intending to .
12 - FORTITUDE : 05/05 - my last best pick . neat jpop-ish intro narration verse and nice typicial 12012 style chorus .
13~15 BONUS TRACKS : 03/05 - well 6 party stood out the most but if these are really remakes ... im not sure .
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i just want applause to the courage and effort to turn things around ,
considering that 12012 lately has been doing all that flashy-colored all over-stuffs .
especially the concept and their outfit fashions taken much points from me
(except wataru's mimic version of c-sleazoid kyo...i hope he doesnt try the clockwork orange copy tho)
they could have done much better .
especially wataru growl points and song structures .
they seem to lack details here and there . guitar tones and drum sounds . i see many missing points also .
but overall , 4/5