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Let me go ahead and give a better explanation. Even then I will not word it right.
I didn't mean that they did all the work, or that they stand out the most in the album. Kai is still the most noticeable in terms of improvement though, and none can argue with me there.
What I'm referring to is the co-op they are making with the rest of the members (@The MAD Stallion explanation sounds better), the influence of their roles, in order to convey the theme to the album. A very noticeable change of pace than what they've been used to (before they'd play individually, with each of them having significance).
@Aeolus is pretty much explained some of what I noticed. The overall listening to the album gives the listener a sense of a cold, inhuman, or an angry feeling. This is why it sounds like Reita's bass/performance has been turned down (perhaps what @Saishu means), or as @Aeolus mentioned, the guitars are playing at very low levels, sounding like industrial rock/metal (something I've never thought they'd do as an entire album (more prominent than DIM era for sure)), but Reita's there laying the ground work for the other 2 to follow (though you guys mention it's the other way around). @emmnymentions the guitars having no personality, and this is what leads me to believe this. I'm pretty sure I also read in an interview with the band that this was a decision that they made because they were tired of the diversity, as perhaps they wanted to attempt (later confirmed in another interview that that's what they were trying to do) to be more in unison as @The MAD Stallionmentioned.
@The MAD Stallion I wouldn't say he's become lazy, for my reasoning above, but upon initial listening of the album, yeah, Reita is not noticeable or as @emmny put it, relevant (although I really think @emmnywas just trying to troll me). The guitars do indeed drown out Reita, and good thing Kai didn't go a big bass drum, or else why would they need Reita at all then? lol.
BTW VALUM is ONE BADASS TRACK. God I can't stop playing that entire single.
This tagging system is odd, but I'll get used to it I guess.