I will give this another listen and give a more detailed review. However, upon first listen, I can say that this is really great! This album is right behind Royal Order. While not as good to me (the songs don't sound as catchy and I'm just a catchiness whore lol), it is definitely more creative and experimental. Done really well too!
EDIT: since I can't seem to put myself to sleep lol
1.
Camera obscura-SE- Creepy wubba wubba. Nice way to start into the the album. Haunting and dancey...let's see where this goes 3.5/5
2.
追憶 (Tsuioku) -WHOA!!! Incredibly haunting! Beginning piano kind reminds me of Malice Mizer (Beast of Blood?). The singing is beautiful so sweet and the instrumental if nice and simplistic, but interesting. The guitar sounds so menacing. I love it! 4/5
3.
Dark Night - That dirty low guitar into the metalcore riffing (its metalcore right? I'm always fucking up genres). This song is just sick sounding. I like how they seem to use that metaclcore riff as a break in the verses and the piano is simple but beautiful! I don't like the chorus though! I feel it would have made a better impact if they had a slower chorus line. Still great! 4/5
4.
Liar - Sounds like a mega man x synth XD . This is just a filler to me. Not bad, but something I'd probably skip over. 3/5
5.
Shadow - This single is when I new Lycaon was going to take their sound in a great direction again! Straightforward, but done really well. Very endearing chorus and just beautiful to listen to. Vocals are great! 5/5
6.
暗室-SE- (Anshitsu) - creepy...haunting....love it! 5/5
7.
marionette - Creepy child laugh in the beginning. I had so much anticipation for this song. It's like someone is stalking you through a building. This haunting song is just playing as the killer lurches towards you. Kind of repetitive though... 3.5/5
8.
君を壊すガラスの衝動 (Kimi o kowasu garasu no shoudou) - Beautiful all over. I have nothing really to say about this. It's just awesome! My favorite part are the vocals for the verse. I think I like the faster vocals in Lycaon. 4.5/5
9.
くちづけ-SE- (Kuchizuke) - yeah! smooth jazzy instrumental. I've always been a fan of Lycaon jazz except Eros. So I had high anticipation for what happened next. 4/5
10.
Rouge - SWEEEEET!! Dancing my ass off! At first the chorus vocals were a little weird to me, but they grew on me quickly. This is probably their most well constructed jazzy type song. So much variations going on in this song, but still held together really well. 4/5
11.
馬鹿ね。(Baka ne) - I don't really like this song that much, but I find myself always singing the Bake ne Bake ne Bake ne and I do enjoy the weird synth pre chorus part. Experimental, but I don't think it was as successful. A for effort. 3/5
12.
アネモネ (Anemone) - I put this on par with Marigold, but I don't think this has as much replay value. The singing is decent, but never felt his singing was really suited for this type of ballad. Instrumental is ok, not to rave over. 2.5/5
13.
売女-SE- (Baita) - I get it....ooooohhhh we're creepy! lol 3/5
14.
悪女の微笑 (Akujo no hohoemi) - dat' whip! XD This single made me actually give them a chance again as I was kind of done with them for awhile. Still sounds decent. This song being fueled by the whip is what keeps me loving it. lol 3.5/5
15.
ILLUSION - A better Psychedelic Jelly? lol Unfortunately I don't think they pull this type of song off that well. It just sounds bland to me until the spastic breakdown into the solo. That was a nice touch. 2/5
16.
メランコリック (Merankorikku) - Interesting riff! I was with it, but the chorus rubs me the wrong way. I love the build up to the breakdown! It's like he is building up to an orgasm or something and then explodes at the top with a scream XD Headbang time! 3/5
17.
ジプシー (jipushii - Gypsy) - I like this song a lot! A very unique ballad. Kind of reminds me of when they did Alejandro. It has that Spanish feel to it. Very beautiful and creative. The instrumentation is beautiful. The vocals are beautiful. I could replay this song just for it dancey and innovative instrumentation alone. 5/5
18.
endroll-SE- Kind of a part II to our opening SE. Ties things together nicely. 3/5
Overall: 4/5
This is by far the most exciting thing that has come from them in a long time! Not Royal Order, but this is a HUGE step in the right direction. Lots of experimentation with solid composition. I will say this is better put together than Royal Order though. Royal Order's songs were better, but were still disjointed to me. This album fits extremely well with each other. No song order changes or anything. It's perfectly placed. Minus a few minor hick-ups, this album is good and I feel each time you replay it, you'll find something new in the songs that you like. They are very detailed musically. Good job, Lycaon! You found your way again! AND GREAT AMOUNT OF NEW MATERIAL! I'm happy!
HIGHLIGHTS: Shadow, jipushii -Gypsy, Kimi o kowasu garasu no shoudou
MIDLIGHTS: Dark Night, Tsuioku, Akujo no hohoemi
LOWLIGHTS: ILLUSIONS, Bake Ne, Merankorikku
The rest fall in between.
