girugamesh - MUSIC

Since the beginning of girugamesh's musical career, we've seen the band's music evolve gradually. Each release has been progressively more sophisticated and focused, and the direction they are taking is getting clearer. While it seemed the band was falling into a darker, hard rock style with their last three major releases, the launch of their new album MUSIC proves that while they're still walking that path, they aren't opposed to trying new things.

At first listen, MUSIC seems different from any sound we've heard from girugamesh before. Upon further investigation, we see that the arrangement is fairly consistent, but in terms of style and experimentation, there are a lot of new ideas. In the past the band has dabbled with new things, but never to such a degree as with this album. In MUSIC, the band took risks, especially with the synthesizer overload, and the album's ideas are all over the map. It's an enjoyable twist - once you can get used to it.

The album kicks off with Break Down, which is our first rock track with the electronic addition. The instrumental composition of Break Down makes it a strong song with a cheerful and almost pop chorus to accompany its rough rock edge, but dumps us with an unexpected surprise: Satoshi raps. The new addition works in their favor though, enhancing the song and making Break Down a great song.

ULTIMATE 4 throws us into moshpit heaven with its powerful headbanging arrangement, rough lyrics and growled background vocals. This is the hardest song off the album, showing us the boys still have what it takes to produce an amazingly dark song. With a screamed chorus and just a hint of futuristic electronica throughout the song, ULTIMATE 4 is the ultimate song off this album, and fans of the self-titled previous album will fall in love with this track.

The tracks FREAKS and Angry Juice are mosh-worthy tracks with shouting background vocals, a robust guitar and drum beat and harsh vocals. FREAKS is the harder of the two tracks, playing up the rock end a little more like its predecessor. Angry Juice, however, is just as addictive a track with a strong electronic rock rhythm that delivers an unexpected treat: Shuu puts heavy emphasis on his bass picking.

While Evolution delivers more of an electronic sound than any other track on the album, it's also one of the best. The band makes it apparent that they know how to combine rock with this new sound they're experimenting with, and they aren't afraid to show it. Raw vocals and a catchy English chorus aside, the drums and guitar are what really add to this song; the electronics give it an extra fun edge. And the Evolution chanting chipmunk voices? Definitely a nice touch.

ASKING WHY is the most out of place track on the album and seems like something you'd expect to hear from Linkin Park or Atreyu, not girugamesh. The majority of the song is rapped before transitioning abruptly into a screamed chorus. The beat is fairly slow and the song has a good rhythm, but it leaves us asking, "Why?"

Puzzle and DEAD WORLD bring us back to sounds we know and love. Puzzle is a laid back track which really brings out the beauty of Satoshi's voice. After listening to the beginning of the song, however, one may have to suppress the inexplicable urge to burst out singing to Owari to Mirai. The similarities are surprising. Nonetheless, Puzzle gives us a chance to catch our breath from rocking out and just enjoy a good alternative song. Then DEAD WORLD comes at us swinging with screamed vocals, heavy drum beats and a catchy rhythm that will get you jumping. Again, we see the addition of rap sprinkled through, but like Break Down, it gives the song a neat twist.

This album had two instrumental tracks: -INTRO-, a fast paced electronic opener with machine vocals and a strong drum beat, and -INST-, a futuristic sounding one minute intermission track. The latter would probably have been better as a closer and is awkwardly placed between electronic and rock tracks.

It seems like a becoming trend that girugamesh includes on each album a pain filled ballad, and for MUSIC, it's Ishtar. However, change out the lyrics and alter the arrangement slightly, and this song is Kowareteiku Sekai revisited. While the song isn't terrible, it's nothing to write home about. There aren't really any high points to the song - at least, none we haven't heard before. This song really lacked creativity and originality, making what could have been a powerful addition to the album a fairly mundane one.

The end of the album is saved by Enishi, which has a smooth alternative feel that transitions into an aggressive rock beat. Combined with Nii working the guitar and Satoshi belting out the vocals, it's a strong ending to the album.

The one thing with girugamesh we need to remember is that the band is extremely young. As a result, they are still searching for their identity. It might take them years, but girugamesh is certainly on the right track, and it's clear they aren't giving up. The fact that they are willing to take such huge risks - risks that could cost them fans or album sales - is wholly admirable. It shows that they're learning, they are growing, they're determined to do this and do it right. MUSIC is by no means a bad release, but it's a new sound, a new feeling, and it's not something everyone might be ready for. For those of you who were hoping for a release like their last few, give MUSIC a chance. The new sound will grow on you.