Well, i guess i gave the album enough listens by now to give a full review.
To be honest, my expectations were not fullfilled completely - for the first few listens it felt just like with REDEEMER, there were some nice songs on it but it can't compare to [Coll] and MIRROR in the slightest. My impression changed after a few listens and some songs really grew on me, but i'm still not sure if it's better than REDEEMER, which was a good, but not awesome album imo.
The first thing i noticed when i listened to the album was that it's surprisingly heavy, i don't think [Coll] was much harder - another thing is, that the electronic elements Tsukasa announced are missing in the most songs, i hoped for a style closer to WEDICINE. Well, i really liked the dark atmosphere on MONSTERS nevertheless and some songs were pretty close to their old style, the only real letdown was Hizumis vocals, i don't think he's as good as he used to be, not only that his voice sounds partly damaged, but also he pronounces and sings the words in a very weird way - i can't describe it perfectly, it's just different from his old style although i'm sure he would still be able to pull off the old songs like he used to. At least his screams really improved from REDEEMER, i would even say they are as good and intense as on MIRROR.
Human-clad monster 9,5/10
Best song on the album for me, this just awesome. Great chorus and in most parts Hizumi sounds really good, especially the screaming part is more than epic. This is really the core of their sound transferred into their recent style.
DEATH POINT 7/10
Not too much a fan of this song, reminds me of a heavier version of Going On! too much. I guess it's a pretty good songs for live since it's really catchy - contrary to most people i love the "Death Point Death Point Death Point" part, i think it gives the song a lot of energy and drive. What pretty much destroys the song for me is Hizumi's engrish, i think he sounded kind of cool in Infection but this is just plain terrible. Still i like this song sometimes and appreciate it as a good live song.
13 -thirteen- 7,5/10
Wow, this sond needed quite a while to grow on me. First i thought it was pretty boring and repetive, but the songwriting is actually quite clever, i love it how the guitar layers and Hizumis,6 vocals, which fit the song perfectly, build up slowly. Plus the marching drum beat is a really cool idea, although i think this song had the potential to be much better.
LOVE IS DEAD 8,5/10
I know many people hated this songa nd i still don't see the point in that. The composition is great and shows a really good fusion of D'espa's signature sound and dance elements, also the second verse/long bridge is awesome.
DEVILS' PARADE 9/10
Since this was my least favorite preview on Amazon i was really surprised that the full track blew me away. They haven't sounded that dark for a very long time, this is certainly the closest they got to [Coll] recently. Everything is working out perfectly, the composition is just amazing and never gets boring, there are so many memorable parts. I really think this song needs a PV! Sometimes heavy, sometimes with a dance vibe plus the really cool background samples - if that was really the staff, they did a damn good job, the laugh at one part of the song creeps the hell out of me
dope 7,5 or 8/10
This song is growing on me lately. I think the verses a very good, but the chorus just doesn't do it for me, i have the feeling a more melodic one would have fit this song alot better. The part after the second chorus kinda saves the whole thing though.
FALLING 8/10
I loved this song at the very first listen. It starts out with a great riff and a scream (i don't see any similarities to BRILLIANT btw Oo), the verses are very calm and show some of Hizumi's vocals on this album. The chorus is typical D'espa, nothing new, but great nevertheless.
PROGRESS 6/10
Not sure what to think about this track. I think it's pretty good in general, but Hizumi is terrible on this one, this is exactly how i don't want to hear him anymore. Although the short bridge before it is horrible and kinda reminded me of Yozora for a second, the chorus is really nice apart from the singing.
FINAL CALL 7,5/10
A simple, yet catchy and really melancholic song. Definetely not D'espa's most unique song, but i just love the memory and Hizumi is really good here.
abyss 6,5 or 7/10
Definetely a huge letdown for me. I expected so much from the preview and the verses, i thought this could be a really dark ballad in the vein of SCREEN. The chorus pretty much destroys it for me, i think it's much too light for the rest of a song and doesn't seem as emotional as it could be. Maybe this will grow on me later, but they haven't done a ballad that really touched me since SCREEN, so i don't think this one will reach me.
Well, this album is not as good as it could be, but i still enjoyed to hear heavier songs from them after REDEEMER. I hope Hizumi's voice will fully recover soon and he will get back to his former style, that would make the recent songs much better imo.
Personal rating would be 8,5/10, but to give a more objective one i will say 8/10.
