Hmmm okay, I've listened to the album for a few times in the past couple days, so let's see how these songs go...
MALFORMED BOX - Great electronic intro track, segues nicely into the first song.
INSIDE BEAST - Awww yeahhh this is what I'm talking about! Love the electro-metallish influences and those effects and tweaks on Ruki's voice. Pretty intense track with lots of catchiness. I feel like it has almost everything from the band's past few years molded together, but sounding stronger overall.
UNTIL IT BURNS OUT - Lulz the beginning reminded me of lynch blandness but that quickly goes away and turns into a more typical Gaze' song. Elements of this track recall the STACKED RUBBISH album which is always nice. Not an outstanding but an okay number.
DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER - Diggin' the nu-metal like influences and the background shouts and harsh vocals (Ruki's screams and such are pretty cool on this album overall imo), sounds a bit like a mixture between Marilyn Manson and old Linkin Park at times.
FADELESS - Average Gaze' circa STACKED RUBBISH, nothing more to say. Actually, compared to the other tracks it's one of the more unremarkable ones here. Still, not bad or anything.
REDO - Okay, this one could've easily been on STACKED RUBBISH too, just think of songs like GENTLE LIE. A nice and nostalgic sounding tune, kinda "warm" feeling (nice guitars!). A welcome change in all the in-your-face badassery of previous tracks.
LAST HEAVEN - Obligatory Ballad Time. Well, uhm... pretty guitars an' all but I just don't feel it. Okay, the chorus and that following bit is kinda cool.
LOSS - Ooooh this is an interesting one! I love how there's so much stuff going on, a very melancholic feel but also has it's "edges". The atmosphere reminds me of NIL or DIM. That sudden outburst of tempo change only strengthens this. Good one.
THE STUPID TINY INSECT - Song title pls. But anyway, this is a pretty rockin' and catchy tune, no complaints here! Just has enough of its own personality to not make me instantly call it the HEADACHE MAN of the album, but you get it.
IN BLOSSOM - Despite its initial "heavy" impression it's quite a sophisticated track. I almost said it could've been on STACKED RUBBISH judging by the beginning but it's a bit more varied. An interesting song.
鴉 - Aww yeahh bring on da bass! Pretty intense track, I wish Reita composed more songs cuz judged by this he's pretty kewl.
黒く澄んだ空と残骸と片翅 - Aww yeahh [2] This already starts out promising with all that heaviness. It's a bit similar in feeling to the previous track but has its own character of course. Reminds me of older Gaze' tunes, like around NIL times (or even a bit earlier), especially the chorus. An all around solid song, nicely balancing "heavy" and "catchy".
TO DAZZLING DARKNESS - Ahhh finally the guitars from the album spot make an appearance! This is one of those epic tracks in line with DIM SCENE or Taion for example and it doesn't fail! The title encapsulates the whole of the song wonderfully, that's all I can say.
CODA - Excellent outro track that flows from the previous song nicely. It's so interesting to see how mechanical and electronic the intro is in total opposition with this one, which is very emotional and fluid, yet neither one feels out of place. I guess that tells something about the general flow and variety of the album itself.
Well what can I say, they really surprised me with this one, especially after the so-so TOXIC and the dreadfully dull and ridiculous DIVISION. I have a feeling that I'll put this album gladly next to the likes of NIL in the future after further listens. What's even better (and something I haven't felt in quite a while with a GazettE album) is that as soon as it's over I just wanna put it on again. The flow and placing of the tracks are pretty cool, there's only a bit of a lull towards the middle but overall manages to keep my interest, even more so in the second half (which is rare for me). Good job, welcome back GazeDudes!
| cool, coherent and catchy, miles above anything they did in the past few years