BUCK-TICK - Memento Mori

Memento Mori is the most recent album of a rather legendary Japanese band, BUCK-TICK. Memento Mori is a Latin phrase literally meaning “remember you shall die,” once widely used in art. Is the title used by BUCK-TICK as a challenge to their own mortality, their longevity as a band? And what more do they have to say, after decades of existence? This remains to be heard.

Makka na yoru pulls you right in, with a relentless twirling growl of bass and guitars; all the while, Sakurai’s voice successfully holds its ground, even as the song accelerates. The buzzing tempo remains consistent all through the song’s duration, making for a lively and catchy intro. Les Enfants Terribles works like gasoline on a fire, raising the excitement further. Sounding peculiarly like a blast from the past, yet packing a fresh flare, it is bound to satisfy the band’s followers. As a bonus, the chorus is every bit as orgasmic as one would expect from BUCK-TICK.

The guitars tune down slightly for GALAXY, the first ballad on Memento Mori. The melody retains a forlorn quality all through the track. However, the tune is rich, sounding even celebratory at times, probably due to the major key and crescendos. Still, the tender vocals make it one of the softest numbers of the album. Umbrella follows, bringing a rough twist. Apart from the distinctive roughness, the song sounds mostly pop rock, and it allegedly tells the bittersweet love story between a bat and an umbrella. As usual, the listener is welcome to interpret this at will. The melody is as tricky as the clever puns in the lyrics, but more than catchy enough.

Katte ni shiyagare features a funky, old school sound - tweaked vocals, and synthesized loops - making it a sure hit with certain audiences, but rather indifferent to others. Next up is Coyote, a heartfelt ballad. Rhythmical clapping and an acoustic guitar somehow unravel a scene straight out of a tragedy. Giving Atsushi a perfect chance to blow the listener away with deep, honeyed vocals, this is a song that refuses to pass by unnoticed. Following it is Message. Basically, it is another ballad, only this time conventionally dominated by acoustic guitar and keyboards. The combo provides a break from the roller coaster of rock numbers, and for a few minutes it submerges you in soothing melodies and beautiful vocals. Unfortunately, it offers little more.

Memento Mori and a startling dance beat pull you out of the momentary slumber and straight into an entirely different state of mind. The structure is different from the typical BUCK-TICK sound, and at the same time it embraces all their past creations. A grotesque concept delivered in a unique manner with a disjointed solo somewhere in the middle and hip hop elements thrown in, you won’t be able to get enough of this rich, upbeat number.

Jonathan Jet-Coaster delivers you to the last stage of the album, making you hold on for dear life. It is nothing more than a fast paced and aggressive roller coaster ride, chock full of glorious sexuality and mementos of the past, and yet it is so successful from first to last quirky note - ethereal bridge included. Slower, but rocking hard with prominent bass and drums, is Suzumebachi. It's an unlucky song to be amidst so many powerful ones, yet it is not unappealing. Lullaby-III introduces the macabre element to this album and lacks the harder, live sound. Ambiguously creepy melodies and chants meet guttural prayers. Surely, fans of 13kai wa Gekkou will embrace this track appropriately.

Delving into a dark rock'n’roll sound, MOTEL 13 features haunting vocals and Imai’s distinctive guitar solos. Next comes Umbrella’s follow up piece, Serenade -Itoshi no Umbrella-. With lazy, rolling riffs and breathy singing, it could be received as a carefree, fun song...if only it was not a BUCK-TICK creation. In this case, it is safe to assume that grotesque undertones are indeed hidden here and there - bouncing off the distorted guitar wails and into the subtle sigh of the vocals. All in all, this serenade deserves many a replay.

Tenshi ha dare da is yet another memento of the band’s beloved themes: love and sadism, angelic revolvers, Lucifer...the list goes on. The energetic delivery, however, won’t let the listener brush off this song off as just another revisit. The last track of Memento Mori is HEAVEN. Somehow, it is the biggest surprise of the album as it introduces rolling tunes, relentlessly chipper guitars and a rather hippie message. While both Imai and Sakurai aim for a meaningful, almost positive song, it ends up sounding somehow old fashioned. But doesn’t this prove that BUCK-TICK still has a trick or two waiting to be played?

Memento Mori is without a doubt a solid, yet unlucky album. Should any other band have released it, this album would have been greeted with nothing but awe. And yet, amongst BUCK-TICK’s high standard releases, it has a hard time standing out. But why should this keep you from enjoying it? This album presents songs for every taste, bound together by an intriguing concept to hit the right chord with both old and new fans. The band remembers mortality and we remember why we love the band; it's definitely a win-win situation.