ghost

It snowed here so I took a snow selfie. Not as goofy as last year's : P
 

It snowed here so I took a snow selfie. Not as goofy as last year's : P
 

Being generous with a full-body picture.

It snowed here so I took a snow selfie. Not as goofy as last year's : P
 

Toshiya's arms look like edamame ready to pop out of the pod.

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

While the cover of their 1st album was just bad, this is so trashy that I actually kinda love it. XD

They are gathering spirit energy from their fanbase for a Spirit Bomb attack.

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

I picked up their "Ice Romancer" single off the shelf today, gave that a few whirls and man.....I gotta say, I really miss their old sound. It wasn't super original but it was so Sadie.
'Recall' is such a good song too.

I picked up their "Ice Romancer" single off the shelf today, gave that a few whirls and man.....I gotta say, I really miss their old sound. It wasn't super original but it was so Sadie.
'Recall' is such a good song too.

WHAT!? It's an ACTUAL genre? D: Oh my god, so, there are fans of such movies? Wow, wasn't expecting this. But to each his own. I just can't understand seeing anyone or anything getting hurt as entertaining. And no offense to Americans here, but foreign countries do take the cake for such things. I was thinking more Asian, since I have seen some messed up clips from some movies, but obviously not so brutally out there as Saw. I just thought such movies like that are a bit empty, making such thoughtless violence. As you said about those movies having more going on in it, I'm all for that. Just mindless 'fun' like that's a big no for me. I better add those to my watch list then. Those sound interesting. And thanks for the response explaining it! 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is seriously good, and seriously underrated. Shame so many write it off because it's something different than the first, which is really is, but still fantastic.

I just watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 last night and maaan was it gooood.
It was a lot more goofy than the first one ,making it sort of a black comedy, but it still had the crazy psycho atmosphere of the first one.
I mostly laughed through most of it.

It's more a term than an actual genre, but if you talk to someone who's into horror, they'l know what torture porn is and they'll be able to mention a few films within that "genre". And yes, there's people out there who love watching violence, blood and gore, and I am one of them. But I don't like everything just because it's got blood and gore. I really like some of the Saw films, really dislike a few of them. Hate the Hostel films, DESPISE A Serbian Film and so on. But I can mention more sick films I enjoy, than dislike. I'm a sucker for it, both the realistic stuff as well as unrealistic stuff.
 
 
I love brutally bloody violence, gore and whatnot on the screen, and I love MMA (fighting) and such as well. But when it comes to real life violence (aka violence where there's no doctors to take the call, no ref to tell them what's OK and what's wrong and so on) I'm not a fan at all. Can't stand that. Seeing people fight when going out a saturday night properly disgusts me. But when it comes to film it really can't get gory or bloody enough for me.

Most recent snap. A bit more femme/cute than usual, but it was fun.
 

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

Artist: APOGEE Album: OUT OF BLUE Score: If you like to dance then OUT OF BLUE may be for you. Serendipitous moments in life are my favorite. You’ll be going about your usual way and then run into a band like APOGEE. They’re a four-man powered synth-pop group with heavy influences from New Wave and 80’s music. And, their music is very danceable.

We’re introduced to the album with "Runaway Summer", a fairly slow track but exciting enough to make you tap your feet. The chorus is simple but catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along every time it plays. And, those syncopated synth chords will undoubtedly bring you back to the 80’s. Things really get down with "Tonight". It opens with a double bass and snare blast and launches you into a groove so infectious you’ll wish there was a dance floor nearby. The use of electric guitar adds a nice edgy sound to the song too. It’s a really fun track and I find myself coming back to it a lot. The only drawback for me is the rather abrupt ending.

 
"Losing You" keeps the album’s energy going but brings a more sobering mood to the album. It features a catchy little electronic cadence and some really great vocal work in the second melody. "Out of Blue" slows the pace down but retains the groove from prior songs. It’s relaxing and the swelling synths add an otherworldly atmosphere. As a side-note, the filter used on the vocals reminds me of vocals from the band Electric Light Orchestra.

The New Wave influences are a lot more apparent in "Twilight Arrow" from the wonky bass line to the various clinks and clanks of metallic electronic noises. There’s a steady rhythm set by the kick drum and in the chorus everything flows together nicely. Near the end, the song picks up into something funkier and breaks out into an exciting sequence. The synths here can be a little obnoxious though. "Fall into the Sky" is a wonderful ballad that combines a traditional Japanese sound with their electronic synth sound. It’s split into two parts, a milder soft section that focuses on the vocals and a more powerful section that emphasizes the synth and other instruments. I love the sampled voice they use in the beginning (and later throughout the song); it adds a very cute and Japonesque quality to the song without breaking the mood.

 
After all that build up I’m ready for something upbeat. But instead, "A Boy in the river" is next. By no means is it a bad song though. It’s a laid-back track that continues off the more traditional Japanese sound. Simple and short, A Boy in the river is a nice casual listen. The album does pick up again with "Fictionalizer". It begins strong with the synth and drums and maintains a steady pace. About halfway through though, I had hoped that the song would come to some sort of climax, but the same melody and rhythm kept playing. It repeats three times and the song goes nowhere. It’s a bit of a downer to be honest.

We finally come to the close of the album with "Transit". It’s another ballad but plays entirely off their electronic sound. In fact, it reminds me of the disbanded electro-rock/new wave band school food punishment. It starts with one note, held forever. It grows louder and louder, intensifying. Another note joins in. It keeps growing louder and louder until the songs starts and the note slowly fades away. When the song starts, it’s a slow and steady rhythm with a repeating keyboard cadence. For much of the song, the same melancholy beat and melody is played. But, when it gets to the chorus, the vocals become a beautiful A Capella. It’s the perfect calm ending to the album.

 
APOGEE is a fun band. They make fun music that a lot of people can enjoy, and they do a fantastic job of mixing in different influences while staying unique. OUT OF BLUE is an album that stands well as an entire package and by its individual songs. I came upon the album by chance but it’ll definitely stay with me for years to come. Now let’s go hit dat dance floor.

Screw manages to roll out another mediocre album.
Where there's potential, they take that and go their usual route, which makes for a less than thrilling ride.
It's only been about a month and CDJapan is already selling it for 10% off. That should tell you what to anticipate.
 
 

 
 
Nearly every song tries to be heavy or hardcore and they all begin to sound the same.
They try to incorporate different elements like jazz and electronic/dub-step, but they aren't very well executed and distract more than add to the experience. 
Burst Forth, for example, is fast and intense mostly throughout but will have these short jazzy moments. But, they're too short and infrequent that it just seems out of place. Calvacade is another example where the electronic breakdowns don't have much to do with the rest of the song and in fact drag it down. These sections don't work because they're too distinct and sudden. I can understand changing the mood of a song but Screw's execution is choppy and awkward.
A quick note on Eternal Flame, I'm all for the use of auto tune but Byo uses it throughout the entire song and it gets old fast. Calvacade also featured some auto tune but it was only used in some parts and much better executed. 
Also, evil passions sounds like the GazettE's my devil on the bed.
 
 
The voice department especially falls flat as Byou just can not deliver the right vocals to back up the songs. His vocals don't have any power behind them and he sings some of the most unforgettable melodies. Also, his use of filters to add an harsh edge is as unsuccessful as ever. Not to say he can't sing entirely because sometimes he does sing well.
 
 
I've been ripping apart this album head to toe but there are some nice moments.
- mellow is a refreshing upbeat ballad that's a throwback to older Screw and reminds me of tracks like Celestial Bliss and Dearest Wish. Byo does a fine job here too.
- The use of piano in Burst Forth, while very short, is beautiful. They should have pushed the piano instead of the jazzy parts. 
- オブセッション is a pretty neat track that mixes traditional Japanese sounds with a heavy vk style.
- Helter Skelter has a decent chorus and breakdown.
- 絶望の讃美歌's back up vocals in the chorus slightly remind me of BABY STAR.
 
 
Overall, It's a weak album.
There's not much variety and when the variety happens it's usually sloppy and unfitting.
With tracks like mellow, though, a little bit of hope is restored and I'm now in a place
where I look forward to their next release.....But not that much.
 
 
 
 
 
Final Opinion
3/10
 
*edit 5/10
(some of the album really stuck with me even after about a week. I admit the album has more staying power than I initially gave it credit for. I still say.....)
 
 

Artist: アルルカン Album: ニア・イコール Score: It's called near equal because all the songs are just as good as one another.
In life, the first impression is everything. This applies even to music, doubly so for visual kei bands. The first visual kei band in a long time able to combine metalcore with dubstep in a way that didn't make me want to smash my head against a wall, アルルカン's single 墓穴 left a good impression on me. With all their ducks in a row, the announcement of their first full album piqued my interest. I was curious to see what direction this nascent band's first full-length would go in, how many risks they would be willing to take, and how far they bend their approach to music before something gives.
 
However, the second impression is just as important. アルルカン play it safe with near equal, opting to neither amaze nor disappoint. Previously released singles 墓穴 and Eclipse hover a cut above the rest, but there's not a gulf of difference between the old tracks and the new tracks. If anything, they all sound interchangeable. This is both a good and a bad thing.

This is a good thing because it shows that the first few releases weren't a fluke. Their overall sound remains the same, borrowing elements from their peers while also excelling at what they play. 暁-aki- has nice growls with a penchant for catchy hooks and the guitarists have an ear for good riffs. Many of the songs give off the same vibe and toy with the same ideas in a different way. I understand that they are a new band still finding their way, but their bag of tricks is small. They've already recycled such ideas like the dubstep sample over a breakdown, or the overused aggressive verse/uplifting chorus dynamic. As always, the melodic parts kick ass, but it wouldn't hurt to let in a few more influences take over during those moments. The melodic bits are 90% of why this band sounds as good as it does.

We can break up the songs on near equal into three categories. The first is the energetic metalcore numbers that form the backbone of their sound, such as opener 暁 and single 墓穴. There are some more electro rock oriented tunes such as Alive and あの窓に教わった事. Then there is アルルカン's softer side with ending track clepsydra and カレイドスコープ, where one can catch some power chords and piano on display. One look at the track list and it's clear that similar sounding tracks are close to one another. Thus, this album flows in phases instead of hopping between all the different approaches. Whether this is intentional or not I do not know, but it wouldn't be wrong of me to say they had three ideas going into this album and they made those three ideas work as best as they could.

This also leaves me with little else to say about any song in particular, as all points of praise or criticisms noted apply to most of the songs equally.

Does アルルカン miss the mark? While I would have been pleased if they had exceeded my expectations a second time, they delivered at the level I expected them to. It's an enjoyable, but forgettable album. That's not to say that near equal is bad. It's all rising action and no climax, and the abundance of familiar tracks don't help any. There are also moments in individual tracks where the transition between two phases of the music aren't as clean as they could be. There's an undeniable feeling of dissatisfaction at the end of the album, as if the blistering pace and raw energy teased at with prior singles doesn't translate well into a full album. Next time around - and there better be a second album - these rough edges should be polished up.

This is a contender for one of the top visual kei albums of the year - although that's not saying much - and アルルカン has set the bar for visual kei at a comfortable height. If this band continues activities at their current rate and find some way to make their sound more memorable, I can see them gigging at Budokan in a few years.

Three cheers to no tragedies and more music from visual kei's new poster boys.

Man, I remember someone telling me I shouldn't listen to those two particular releases because they supposedly sounded like Linkin Park at the time. On the other hand though, said person also told me that they liked the band when Gackt was the singer, so there's that...

don't care about TeddyLoid but this amv is fucking awesome and deserves its own thread. 

My friend hosted a Masquerade dance for her 23rd birthday (Not traditional sadly, just modern dance party : P). Couldn't pass an opportunity to take a photo.