Dio - DICTATOR

DICTATOR, Dio’s first full album, was released in the United States at the beginning of January by Rightsscale USA. A mirror copy of their Japanese edition, the album was designed as a triple fold digipack that contains a 20 page booklet, ten songs and two PVs: dokusai and Haunting.

Dio kicks the album off with Haunting, which sets the mood for the darkness to come. Listeners are greeted with an eerie piano opening which musters strength, building into a full rock ensemble. The vocals enter soon thereafter, but they lack conviction and draw away from the melody. The instrumental composition is strong enough to carry the song on its own, and Haunting rocks the night away between its rough guitar and echoed chime duo. By the end, despite everything, the song proves to live up to its name well.

SPLENDID WORLD is a far cry from the opening song, and less than thirty seconds in we are launched into a violent rock rhythm complete with screaming vocals and slurred speech. The wild headbanging beat remains steady through the song and is sure to get every listener moving. It is arguably the best track on the album.

A much calmer track, GOD forsaken ~Boku wa kimi no kikazatta karada wo kyouyuu suru sekai no rinjin nado de wa nai~, follows. It has crystal clear vocals that overpower the mellow rock sound, but in a good way. Mikaru’s range is not only impressive, but his voice is intense as he belts out the lyrics with passion pouring from his heart. The instruments follow his vocals well, and tied in with a guitar solo towards the end, they close out a beautiful track.

The mood of DICTATOR continues to somber at the start of Silence of Sorrow, which grows more melancholy as the song flows on with the delicate piano interlacing with the heavy guitar and bass opener. ivy's bass is the most prominent instrument out of the lineup, overshadowing even Mikaru's crooned vocals. However, this is remedied as the song carries on, and the chorus blows you away with its moving arrangement and lyrics. Garasu no umi brings about the next round of extreme screamo with a harsh, guitar-riddled melody. Mikaru's vocals sound as if they are coming through a filter, and while they are clear during the stanzas, they slur nonstop come the chorus, which goes into full scream mode. The rhythm is strong and steady, providing a great rock piece.

The first alternative sounding track is day after day; it maintains a similar rock sound to its companion tracks but is much gentler in its approach. The bass again is the leading instrument that guides the vocals, which seem almost strained as Mikaru sings his heart out. Between the upbeat, almost cheerful chorus and the fantastic guitar solos, day after day breaks away from the conformity of the album, bringing welcomed change.

Instrument of Hell really makes us feel as if we're in Hell - each instrument sounds as if it were playing a different song, and Mikaru is simply incomprehensible, screaming and slurring and sounding nothing like himself to the point that it is almost downright frightening. The chorus is the only break to normality, but even then the drums are so overpowering that nearly everything else is drowned out. While this is not the best follow-up track to day after day, it sets the mood well for the songs to come. Dokusai is just like its predecessor, and the wild arrangement of instrumentals and screaming vocals are the majority of what we hear in this track. While the two go well together on the album, the lack of a serious chorus and mediocre guitar solos prove to bring very little to the table in terms of musical appreciation.

The slowest and prettiest song on DICTATOR, last dance ~album version~, is questionable because of its placement, but there's no question as to why such an enchanting track was included. The elegant piano melody guides Mikaru's subdued vocals through the song, which slowly increases in intensity to lay a path for the heartrending chorus. Preparing for the close of the album, last dance is a special treat for any fan.

The final addition on the album is a secret one, and fans must sit through 88 silent four second tracks before they reach the last song on the album, ...dantoudai wa dare ga tame ni yureru. The last song is much of the same before last dance, with another set of screamed vocals and a wild melody. The headbanging opportunities for this song are endless, and the darkness of the rhythm is everywhere. While it's a cacophonous ending to the album, it suits Dictator well, closing the CD out with a bang.

erina explained in a recent interview that DICTATOR was for fans who didn't know or understand Dio. With DICTATOR preparing to storm the doors of the United States, it is sure to captivate new listeners and blow away those who give Dio's new album a try.