Mio Yamazaki - Noise

Mio Yamazaki is an unusual band in many senses. The band’s name, for example, is merely the vocalist’s name rendered in Western order. Mio Yamazaki the person frequently performs with her face intentionally obscured by shadows, and centers her lyrics around “the savage darkness of female lust and love”. It is appropriate, then, that a band with such a foreboding presence was tapped to create the opening theme to the final installment of the extremely grim, long-running anime series "Hell Girl". Mio Yamazaki’s new single Noise rises to the challenge with ominous precision, elegance, and even some surprises along the way.

The single exists in three versions: regular, deluxe, and a "Hell Girl" version, and each has a different tracklist. The common song among them, Noise, is something of a send-off for the "Hell Girl" series, serving as its last opening theme. At just under three minutes, the track is short but dense. Vocalist Mio and her lyrics maintain a starkly somber tone throughout, but the instrumental section is driving and upbeat, punctuated with the ringing of bells that lends a triumphant air to the song. It is perfectly matched to the emotional highs and lows of the anime, and fans will appreciate the grandiose tone that feels almost like a celebration of the "Hell Girl" series.

Following Noise on the regular edition comes Utsu utsu, a track that almost feels like a “ballad in disguise”. By all appearances the song itself is a standard, piano-driven ballad, but the lyrics express deep self-loathing that take things in a more depressing direction. An off-kilter section in the middle of the song makes the clever contrast between the lyrics and the composition a bit clearer. Next comes Dawn of the Felines, with a sound as wild and quirky as its title. The track is even shorter than Noise, but makes a lasting impression with its up-tempo spoken sections and powerful vocals that capture the band’s essence quite well.

The "Hell Girl" edition brings Que Sera, Sera and along with it a boisterous hard rock style. “Energy” is the key element of the song, with aggressive guitars that make the introduction memorable. Though a somewhat stark contrast to the rest of the single, Que Sera, Sera is right at home among the other, softer songs thanks to Mio’s speedy, high-pitched vocals.

The "Hell Girl" edition also features two tracks as something of a treat for fans of the anime. The first is an alternate version of Noise, as performed by voice actress Mamiko Noto in her role as the anime’s main character, Ai Enma. Noto is widely renowned for her gentle voice, and the juxtaposition of it and Mio Yamazaki’s original instrumentals makes the cover a fun experiment that "Hell Girl" and Mamiko Noto aficionados are sure to love. The other track, sees Mio Yamazaki try their hand at one of Noto's songs, the anime’s ending theme Irogami. The band excels at melancholy songs, and their talent is able to shine through with clarity throughout the cover. Mio herself sings more dynamically than Noto, and the power she brings to the song presents a whole new and interesting angle from which to listen to the original.

Lastly, the deluxe edition features an English version of Noise. While surpassed by the Japanese version, the English take has its own charms thanks to a strikingly faithful translation that necessitates different vocal choices.

"Hell Girl" is an anime that attracts talent, from the veteran voice actors that guest-star in every episode to skilled musicians like Nana Kitade and SNoW who have provided the opening theme songs. Despite some imposing shoes to fill, Mio Yamazaki’s Noise is a beautifully-crafted, emotionally stirring single that will satisfy fans of the show as well as music fans who want alternative rock that’s truly “alternative”. The band’s poignant psychological depth remains evident despite an initially approachable sound, and the variety on display means there’s a song for every type of listener. Furthermore, the "Hell Girl" edition makes for an excellent tribute to the well-loved anime series. Despite the concept, however, every edition of Noise is a piece of Japanese rock Heaven.

Noise by Mio Yamazaki on VEVO.