the studs - And Hate

And Hate was the studs' first full length album and was released in two versions: one with a DVD and one with an two additional tracks. The album includes a few previously released tracks, such as Niji No Iro and Gaze, but delivers a handful of brand new songs with a punch that is entirely satisfying. With just two tracks on the album being composed by Yukino, we see for the first time the direction the studs are heading in, and it's increasingly clear that aie has taken over steering the ship, and he fully intends to bring us back to the sounds of Nagoya kei.

And Hate is a dynamic beginning to the album and probably the best choice to have follow the introduction track. It is also the only one that has a significant amount of bizarre English mixed in with the lyrics. The song begins with a strong guitar opening and moves steadily into smooth lyrics that are a far cry from what we've heard from Daisuke in the past. They mix just a hint of alternative edginess with the natural beauty of his voice, leaving us desperate for more. The song is full of surprises and takes you through several stages of sound between instruments and vocals without any uncomfortable transitions, making the song one of the best on the CD.

Niji no Iro and Gaze are two other strong tracks off the album that were released on singles prior to And Hate's release. Both are catchy alternative tracks with strong lyrics and excellent composition.

Dread is one of the first headbanging-approved songs the studs have released since their first album with an extremely hard sound, rough vocals and the familiar screams of Daisuke we all know and love. This song is designed to get an audience moving, not only by its catchy beat but from the shouts in background during the chorus. This is a mosher's dream waiting to happen and will definitely get your blood pumping and won't disappoint one bit.

Unsightly Stupid brings us full swing back to a raw alternative sound that is highly reminiscent of things we've heard from aie before. Daisuke's lyrics are a nice compliment to the song, accompanying the heavy guitar-laced melody with that perfectly strained voice that really brings the sound home.

Hyouryuu no Hana kicks off with a rich guitar melody that hints the song may be a slow one, but the idea is short lived as it develops into a full instrumental composition with a faster and more powerful beat. Drums and bass are added just for a brief minute before tapering back off into a quieter and more passive sound as Daisuke's vocals kick in. The cycle continues in the same manner when they reach the chorus, going back and forth between the energetic side and its calmer counterpart. The big surprise of the song comes from the prominent backup vocals by aie, a nice surprise for any fan who favors his voice.

There are four tracks on the more mediocre side of this album, and they are Shakunetsu wa reido, Missing vein, Aru Asa and Keishou. These tracks break up the faster, harder songs and are intended to be the more "relaxing" songs of the album. However, they come across as slow, simple and dull. Shakunetsu wa reido has no high points or real vocal variety, while Missing vein has an easy going beat with a simple composition and equally plain lyrics. Keishou shows some potential towards the end with screamy lyrics, but by that time, it's too late. Aru Asa is the only song that is saved by an extremely catchy jazz chorus, despite its slow and painfully basic arrangement.

Advance Insane is a deadman fan's dream, bringing us back to the very familiar sound from the In the Direction and No Alternative eras, but almost to the point of wondering, "Haven't we heard this song before?" Indeed we have, with the beginning being quite reminiscent of Grand Ground, and a twenty second clip sounding like they suddenly wanted to switch to Moumoku no Han to Hoshu wo te ni. Advance Insane is a little all over the place, and it's clear the song was made by aie. Despite the similarities, the song delivers a sonorous alternative sound with robust lyrics. Daisuke really runs with the range of vocals and works it to give the song an overall beautiful and unique sound, making Advance Insane another one of the tracks that truly shines off the album.

Comparing this album to their first, the planning of this album seems much more thought out; it is less rushed, better arranged and has a clearly defined direction. It is without a doubt one of their cleanest releases yet. While there are songs that leave us wondering where they quite fit in, they still sound like something produced by the studs. It is obvious with this album that the studs are intent on making a name for themselves and reclaiming the alternative sound in the visual kei scene, one amazing track at a time.