NOW harvests the combination of old and new. Most of the tracks commence and build up to a common sound, woven by the intricate mix of instruments and rhythm. The entire album thrusts a heavy sound outwards, similar to previous releases.
NOW reached its North American audience in late January 2010 - and it delivers. It has just been released in Europe on February 12, 2010.
The opening line “Nothing begins if you don’t love yourself; nothing begins if you don’t take an action” in broken words during
now (intro) haunts the mind. It is underscored by a high-powered bass line, melting instantly into
bit crash without any depression in sound.
I think I can fly begins with synthesizers that drive the feeling of being at a rave.
Nii and
ShuU mimic the same rhythmic patterns and release the sound all of
girugamesh is best known for - hard guitar playing, fast drums and powerful vocals.
Satoshi’s voice briefly bounces between a few notes during the hook before the chorus; anger subtly laces his voice as he claws towards the chorus.
BEAST storms through with short rap sets in a minor key after a minimal pause between tracks. Its sound is akin to a J-pop song. The opening line is supplemented by a change in tempo, mimicking the sound of applause. The next song,
nobody, acts as a buffer and marks the half-way point of the album. The song uses acoustic guitar, leaving a lasting impression as it seems less abrasive than the remaining tracks. A longing feeling lingers throughout the song as
Satoshi draws the listener in to his world.
BEAST works in a similar manner, in terms of its unexpected beginning. Both songs mark a deep rapture of creation through sound.
Immediately breaking the mellowness after
nobody is
Suiren, which slams out pangs of anger that will resonate through the remainder of the album.
Nii and
ShuU compliment
Satoshi perfectly;
Яyo maintains a powerful rhythm with his hands alone. It’s as if angst is drawn out of the body whenever
Satoshi's voice is heard.
arrow suggests a different feeling than the proceeding tracks, and not because it is at the end of the album. It contains more mainstream appeal to it - which was perhaps the intention. Fans across multiple continents can be assured that
NOW is a necessity for any who enjoy
girugamesh.
NOW can be purchased in three different editions:
Regular, Limited and
Super Limited Edition. The
Limited and
Super Limited contain a few extra tracks and an extra DVD with one or two PV’s on it. There is also a fourteen-track European edition available for purchase.
This review was made possible by JapanFiles.com, and the album is available for purchase
at the website.
