Tracklist:
1. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai
2. Gunjou Valensia
3. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai (Off Vocal)
4. Gunjou Valensia (Off Vocal)
1. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai
I love the sad piano solo which opens the song, but it just doesn't prepare you enough for the extremely hard and dramatic gothic rock arrangement which ensues. Almost trance inducing, there are only a few places from which we get to rest from the constant earthquake of guitars and deep strings, and it completely suits the cover, because it's almost hell-like (in a good way .__.). Yui's voice, of course, doesn't disappoint either; even though it's somewhat weaker because of the heaviness of the composition, it's quite powerful and lamenting. And, this is supposed to be an ending theme... Aren't endings supposed to be less heart-attack inducing?
Rating: 9
2. Gunjou Valensia
Showing more of it's subtle ability to frighten, this track is instead built more around the haunting organs - happy haunting organs. Happiness, is of course, good, but used with this instruments it's just plain morbid. As the track builds up, it gets a sound a bit similar to the previous one, but words are too weak to describe the immense guitar acrobatic stunts which imitate the human voice perfectly. Now, Yui's voice is much more expressive in this slower, lighter track and it shines in it's full glory and range. The last few disharmonic notes just left me staring blankly, overwhelmed by the sheer emotional effect, so if you care about music at all, you need to listen to this song.
Rating: <3 (just kidding, it's 10.)
When I am doing reviews, I really don't want people do get me wrong: when I write something like morbid, or scary, or frightening, it's actually a good thing, because the songs have done their mission well. This single earned pretty much all of the attributes above, so my overall rating is: 10 - RECOMMENDED.
The comment box doesn't bite.
Oooh it's so cool you reviewed this, Yui Sakakibara's Phantasm persona is one of my favourite artists. I agree with you Gunjou Valencia is better the title track but I still love Hagane... anyway! If you haven't listened to them you should have a look at her other two Phantasm albums End Prophecy and Revival Prophecy. Whoever composes that stuff is a frickin' genius!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Phantasm had other releases too! Of course i'll listen to them, if they're anything like this.
DeleteI listened the first one but I couln't find the second. Anyway, I agree, not really the typical ending, but I still liked it:).
ReplyDeleteThe atypical ending themes are usually the best ^.^
ReplyDelete