Maon Kurosaki - VERTICAL HORIZON

 

Jormungand PERFECT ORDER OP (Track no. 1)

Jyukki no Kizuna Sekigahara Titan IN (Track no. 4)

Kamigari Daemon Trigger OP (Track no. 8)

Real Oni Gokko 3 OP (Track no. 9)

Hakuouki Reimeroku OP (Track no. 12)

Tracklist:

1. Umare Iduru Monogatari
2. UNDER/SHAFT
3. [Dreamed Wolf]
4. Juu Oni no Kizuna
5. VERTICAL HORIZON
6. starry x ray
7. Dresser girl...
8. Distrigger
9. Nari Hibiita Kodou no Naka de, Boku wa Seijaku wo Kiku
10. FRIDAY MIDNIGHT PARTY!!
11. Just believe
12. reimei
13. Story ~Kimi e no Tegami~


1. Umare Iduru Monogatari

Opening the album, we get something a lot like the prelude from the previous album... except that the one-minute track is kind of split into three parts, or themes. Firstly, as I mentioned, the whispy, nature-inspired image of the so-called Butterfly Effect ; something small that can trigger a big event. Leading on, the volume suddenly goes down, and then revives itself, but in a much darker fashion. The arrangement becomes deeper as well, and perfectly transitions into the final part, which is like tranquility and peace before the big storm. Of course, every time you see me writing so many words to describe mere 60 seconds means that I have been very impressed. The transition itself gave me shivers down the spine.
Rating: 10 (why isn't there a 15 in my scale yet?!)

2. UNDER/SHAFT

A complete opposite of the somewhat calm introduction. UNDER/SHAFT has an extremely grim, industrial arrangement with guitars and synths being very hard and just flying all over the place, which deepens the overall impression of chaos and hell. Maon's vocals don't fall back behind either, as they were filtered and filtered and filtered until the same harshness was achieved with her voice as well (creating even more creepiness in the screeching and whispering parts). This is just one big (good) shock, both for the song itself, and the fact that this was actually an anime tie-in. I would definitely avoid watching Jormungand if I were you.
Rating: 10

3. [Dreamed Wolf]

One of the harder jobs when making an album is composing a worthy follow-up to the first song, but Maon definitely has no problem with that. This song would be a worthy best one in her discography, being even darker than UNDER/SHAFT. It consists of many opposites colliding in one track, opening with a short section of vampire-castle like gothic bells, but proceeding into a haunting mix of dubstep and rock on the highest level quality possible. Moving from one spectre of awesome to another, it can turn from decadence to metal with just Maon's command. This new track is probably my new favourite song from her.
I was actually going to write "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD", so it's good I came up with something else.
Rating: 10

4. Juu Oni no Kizuna

Not resting even for a mid-tempo song, more rock is presented but in a more visual-kei style. The arrangement in this one is a bit more anisong-y with the violins and the piano, but they were used quite uniquely, as the piano was jazzy, while the violins just played some random disharmonic tones. The vocals are very strong and rule the song, with an almost lamenting tone to them, which is also her territory besides the grittiness we get otherwise. Although the song is not as staggeringly original, considering it's a tie-in, it is good that Maon retained her signature style. 
Rating: 9

5. VERTICAL HORIZON

It's weird for the very title song of an album like this to appear so late, and to be so out of the style of the previous songs. But, I guess that after so much energy it needed something that calms down and relaxes. This song is a hybrid of dubstep and sad ballads, with some guitars after all, because, you know, it's Maon-san. Her voice is under filters, which is good because she can sound whispy and gentle, perfectly suiting the arrangement, but she tends to sound like a Vocaloid at higher tones, which is not the case with her usual voice. With an another successful genre mix, things are looking good for the title song, even if it's not as upbeat or rocky.
Rating: 9

6. starry x ray

Vertical Horizon was just a slight rest, because we are thrown in a mix of western-like guitars solos and more techno-rock cadences. The song is very upbeat and synthy, at some moments even trance-like while the dubstep percussions take the back seat, even though the basic alternating rhythm and tempo still remain. On the other hand, her voice and the chorus itself is more pop-like, which differs from the dark songs, and lowers the grade a bit.
Rating: 8

7. Dresser girl...

With this being the usual dance-like electro fare, it becomes American pop to its fullest - but here, it's not a drawback, it becomes a plus. The composition isn't anything we haven't already seen before, but Maon's high-pitched, happy voice with no sign of straining at all, and the catchy chorus make it original. Even though she rarely does something like this outside her albums, and it's not her main genre by a long shot, this song can do justice to many respectable J-pop and American pop stars.
Rating: 9

8. Distrigger

Returning to the rocky stuff after some experimentation, we get something much like stuff from her first album (namely, Vanishing Point), except it's even more upbeat and explosive, even though it starts with a lone piano intro. Guitars here are softer than the industrial rock variants we've been able to hear, but are perfectly capable to pair to Maon's voice. She achieved her maximum and her best possible colour in this song, as it is clear and undisturbed by filters or grittiness but still very powerful.
Summing up the song is the same piano solo from the beginning, which makes for a compelling listen.
Rating: 10

9. Nari Hibiita Kodou no Naka de, Boku wa Seijaku wo Kiku

Wow, my favourite single from the era made it to the album - the one I listened to until I almost got sick of it (it's that good). No synthy stuff or dubstep this time around - there's nothing in the arrangement besides guitars and drums, and it sounds absolutely fantastic, moving more into metal even, not rock. This song is a great showcase for her vocal ability as well as Distrigger, because now we get to hear the not-so-clear deeper tone, which sounds like out of the horror movie it is tied to.
I'm not sure if this song got a remix, or it's just my headphones, but it's a pure 10 anyways.
Rating: 10

10. FRIDAY MIDNIGHT PARTY!!

A quirky, disharmonic sound, like one from a broken old GameBoy opens this track, but all hopes of another dark listen fall when the song sounds something like a homage to Katy Perry's "Friday Night". It's in the summer spirit, being all cheery and happy, but it's the complete opposite of some of the eargasmic things in this album. Perhaps the only good thing here is the returning dubstep sequences, which are more expressive and electronic than in any other song.
... At least she had the decency not to steal from Japanese singers.
Rating: 7

11. Just believe

Finally, a real ballad. No electronics, it's a real ballad with cellos and a very sad one with the touching piano. Maon shows that she doesn't do only fast and upbeat songs, as her dry voice colour and vibrato, somewhat like Aimer's, works great in these kind of arrangements. Ultimately it turns into a power-ballad with some guitars thrown in as well, but the dramatic and urgent usage of violins still manages to rip your heart out and smash it into pieces.
Rating: 10

12. reimei

Now, many people look on reimei as the outcast in her discography, with it being much more anisong than anything else, but I, on the other hand, actually enjoyed this pretty much. The vocals and the arrangement with the usually used violins and piano mold into one epic piece, and even though I rarely listened to it before, I'll definitely return to it more in the future. Of course, some link to her rock songs must be made, especially in the middle eight section, but it can still challenge the best of anime songs.
Rating: 10

13. Story ~Kimi e no Tegami~

Almost all albums end with slower, heartbreaking songs, but since we've already had that one, this track is instead uplifting and bright; perfect for a closure, though. From the happy, swift intro it becomes a rockier song, but shows the triumphant, even cute feeling. Maon doesn't miss the chance to show her happiness, and it even gets some "la la la" chants on her side, and it much reminds of Magic world by its energy.
Rating: 9

Ever since the last album, it seems she has been experimenting with many different combinations, and that obviously lead to some great styles to appear. My hopes are that she continues to mix rock with dubstep (I'm being biased here, I know), because that was what stood out most on this album.
Favourite songs: Umare Iduru Monogatari, [Dreamed Wolf], Distrigger, reimei
My overall rating is: 9

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