BAND-MAID - Unseen World

For BAND-MAID, this year started with unpleasant news. Their long-awaited first one-man live at the famous Budokan, announced a year ago, was cancelled due to the pandemic. It was sad but unsurprising in our current reality. However, the first month of 2021 also had its bright side as the maids released their fourth album Unseen World. The great single Different offered fans a glimpse of what the band was preparing but didn’t dispel all the concerns. It would be a shame if they dropped another CONQUEROR. It was a huge, sluggish and occasionally boring album. Gladly, this time was different.

Unseen World is the first full-length BAND-MAID album without any glaring issues, even if you try to find them intentionally. The release brassily breaks into the personal space of listeners with its bold and fast Warning! and NO GOD (please note that the limited edition with a photobook has a different running order). After this kind of shake-up, it's just impossible to turn the album off.

How did the maids achieve this? The answer is relatively simple. Contents of their previous albums could be divided into two categories: obvious hits and other songs. The "other" songs were interesting indeed, but were outshone by heavier and catchier companions.

This time, BAND-MAID's approach is completely different. From the first to the last second, Unseen World is filled with wild and uncontrollable energy. The album's not divided the “best” songs and “everything else” anymore. All the tracks are composed at an equally high level and nothing distracts listeners from the flow during playback.

In terms of music, BAND-MAID decided not to hold themselves back. The band unleashed all its rock energy and vivacity amassed during a year spent in isolation. Of course, familiar moves like catchy choruses full of “Wow-wow-wow” and “Yeah” are still in place. It’s impossible to imagine the maids’ music without them and equally impossible not to sing along. The sound's become bolder and more aggressive, sometimes even vicious.

The musicians also demonstrated their increased skills. Sometimes you may want to rewind to a certain moment, just to listen to KANAMI’s killer guitar solos or AKANE’s loud drumming one more time. All of this combined makes Unseen World the fastest BAND-MAID’s album to date.

The band skilfully control the mood of the release to ensure listeners won’t be bored. Rhythmic hard rock tracks like Mannes or CHEMICAL REACTION cut in between more adrenalin-infused fare, creating a nice contrast. BAND-MAID also prepared surprises inside certain tracks and made them unpredictable.

For example, NO GOD doesn't let you take a breath from the first second. However, at some point, this catchy devil becomes a serene angel. The song transforms into a ballad, and SAIKI changes her powerful voice to something truly gentle. Later on, it switches back to its original thundering sound for the dynamic finale.

Even MIKU, who always had cute and playful solo tracks in the past, got Sayonakidori. This one surprises with the mix of the heavy music and high-pitched voice of the rhythm guitarist. Oh, and in case you thought the maids couldn't possibly make anything heavier or faster than Rinne, be prepared as BLACK HOLE can definitely compete, especially towards to the end.

BAND-MAID put all their experience and energy into Unseen World and created the best album of their career so far. As adored as Just Bring It and World Domination are, those releases cannot be said to be flawless. However, Unseen World not only fixed all the previous releases' issues, but also improves in terms of overall quality, sound speed and dynamics. If someone asks you “What do these girls in the maids’ outfits play?”, turn on this album and watch their eyes grow wide in amazement.