#mini-album

*This post has been removed by Tumblr’s algorithm for sensible content, so I am reposting it, with updates from the time it has been published.*

Here I am with a new review in “Throwback Thursday”! Today’s subject is the debut release by the visual kei band Bless This Mess, the mini-album Hymn, released on 24th January 2016. If you don’t know them, they formed on 2015 and led by YNG (vo.), former guitarist of Saruin and vocalist of Jabell, who has been accompained at that time by Ranmaru (gt.), former member of Para:noir, and Baku (ba.), another member of Saruin and Jabell. And now… let’s review!

-Hymn: the title-track opens the mini-album, a short intro filled by a dark atmosphere and slow notes, accompained by a melancholic piano.

-Kakushoku (Erosion): the song starts with a fast drumming, accompaining deep vocals, leading up to a strong and structured theme, well built by the instruments; YNG’s piercing vocals drive up the song, made by an aggressive and dark melody. —> 9/10

-Barbarism: this song sees a faster rhythm, with powerful guitar lines bringing more energy into the melody; YNG’s voice is obscure and rapid, fitting in the theme quite easily; another strong song, maintaining high the level of the release. —> 9/10

-16: deep notes and a steady drumming characterize the song, with darker and extreme vocals which dictate the whole thing’s atmosphere; the theme results being heavier than expected, even thanks to the compelling guitar work. —> 9/10

-Mr. Human Error: the song starts with a pretty powerful drum work, along with a piercing guitar, leading up to an extravagant theme, well paced in its own; YNG’s vocals appear dim and grotesque, accompained by seducing bass lines, engaging guitar lines and a pretty good structure. —> 9/10

-Keigan, hito o iru (Dazzling eye, shooting to people): suffused vocals open the song, accompained by a stronger instrumental work, dictating the track’s rhythm; then the theme becomes more energetic, with YNG showing off deep vocals, well intertwined with the guitar’s compelling notes; a quite unpredictable song, which adds some aggressive notes into its structure. —> 8.5/10

-Slumber: the mini-album ends with a song opened by softer and melancholic notes, with YNG’s vibrant and deep vocals accompained by idyllic notes, making his interpretation more suggestive; the theme goes on with a really good rhythm, well articulated by the single instruments, building up an unique ballad, which reaches its own peak with a fantastic guitar solo. —> 10/10

Final Vote —> 9/10

Bless This Mess belongs to the wide group of visual kei bands which didn’t have the luck to see their talent recognized at all. This mini-album is surely their best work to date, bringing in an heavy and enigmatic metal sound, accompained by energy and melancholy, all enclosed in a contained and solid product, where YNG’s voice is the best highlight. The band had experienced a change of line-up in 2017, when the historical members Ranmaru and Baku left the band, substituted by Jin Tateishi, former guitarist of Ansia, and Rega, bassist of Srash Notes Garden, leading the band to be signed under Starwave Records, a label which would have brought them more popularity, even thanks to the pretty good album Xiall Rain. On 2018 the band gained an official drummer, Hakuya, of NightingeiL fame, and released their first and unfortunately only EP Blind Circus, before their disbandment, occurred at the end of that year. Despite their short and unlucky path, Bless This Mess is a band everyone should listen to, since the sound they had is quite rare, especially in the current scene. A mini-album for who had followed Bless This Mess’ short career or needs to get into a compelling and not so known band.

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Here I am with a new review in the past in “Throwback Thursday”! Today’s subject is the debut work by the visual kei band Nightmare, the first mini-album Outlaw, came out on 25th November 2002. This mini-album is the only one released during their indie phase and allowed to introduction of their wild sound to the audience. And now… let’s review!

-Dogma [discovering the mystery]: the mini-album starts with a song kicked off with a growing and paced rhythm, where the vocals appear quite aggressive and living at the same time; an interesting track, featuring even a swing interlude towards the finale. —> 7.5/10

-Bildsungroman [the past shapes people]: a fast and piercing guitar open the song, leading up to a beating and balanced rhythm; Yomi’s voice is flowing and quite enjoyable, building up a nice track, improved by an interesting guitar work. —> 8/10

-Gianizm-san (Gianizm #3) [Gianizm —> band’s main concept]: the third part of the Gianizm series is opened by a fast rhythm, along with a nice guitar touch and aggressive vocals, featuring a sort of dark shade in the interpretation; a catchy theme, even if some part messed up and repetitive, with a interesting folk component. —> 7.5/10

-Saiyuuki (Play time) [childhood]: energetic guitar notes kick off the song, featuring a quite relevant rhythm, surrounding a cheerful melody; Yomi’s voice appears quite decent, in a nice and playful interpretation, fitting with the simple atmosphere provided by the track; a nice song, with a good guitar work. —> 8/10

-Shinjitsu no hana (Flower of truth) [reality fades, dreams remain]: this song starts with warm guitar notes, leading up to a paced melody, well driven by both the guitars; the vocals are more passionate and intense, even if not refined at all; a really good song, with an awesome guitar solo, bringing some improvement to the release. —> 8.5/10

-Star[K]night [the most important things are always lost]: the lead-track ends the mini-album featuring electronic notes, which kick off the melody, catchy and quite simple; Yomi’s voice is unrefined, but anyway enjoyable and fitting with this kind of song; a good ending theme, working even thanks to the guitars. —> 8.5/10

Final Vote —> 8/10

With a bold concept and nothing to lose, Nightmare went strong into the Japanese rock scene, bringing up a rocking and energetic sound which has developed in a really long time. Outlaw marks their debut in the musical world and quite introduced their style to the audience, with an interesting final result; the melodies are energetic and catchy, empowered by a nice guitar work and good rhythms, where the vocals are interesting but quite unrefined, explained by the indie production behind the release and Yomi’s unexperienced skills, which would have improved in the course of the years. We haven’t heard from them since 2016, but meanwhile the members found interesting directions thanks to their work in other projects, such as Gremlins(Hitsugi),The Legendary Six Nine (Ni-ya and Ruka) and the latest ones, Jakigan Meister (Ni-ya and Sakito) and Take no Break (Yomi), which will flow into their comeback, a thing we are looking forward to so much. Meanwhile you can relive their best hits, through a DVD featuring their 20th anniversary live performance, a compilation of hits chosen by the singer Yomi and ending up to their new single, Ink, expected in October. A mini-album for who needs to know Nightmare’s musical prologue and can’t wait for their return.

That’s all folks! See you with the first part of July’s themed week in “Lyrical Love”!

Thanks for the reading!

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