In the direction of sunrise and night light
Artist: Deadman
Album: In the direction of sunrise and night light
Musicians: Mako (vocals), aie (guitar), Kazuya (bass), Toki (drums)
Composer/Lyricist: aie, Mako
Release Date: 14 Dec 2005
| In the direction of sunrise and night light - Deadman Tracklisting: 01. Star Baby *Bold titles - recommended listening. |
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OVERVIEW
Deadman formed in 2001 and split in 2005 after only two albums, of which In the direction of sunrise and night light is the latter. Of course, it is the nature of the music industry that a lot of bands end up going their separate ways after only a few years together. However, I’ve never truly regretted hearing of a band’s break-up as I regret Deadman’s split. Admittedly, I didn’t even hear most of their music until after the split was already announced, but after listening to this album, I’ve realized that their break-up really is a loss to the J-rock scene, and I’ve come to regret the squandering of their potential. Deadman’s music is truly unique, with a very original sound unlike the majority of Japanese bands out there. Mako’s voice is very unique in and of itself, as it is deeper than the majority of J-rock singers but capable at the same time of great range and even greater power. The composition of the songs on In the direction of sunrise and night light is some of the most interesting I’ve heard since Dir en grey, and all the musicians are highly talented at their instruments. In the direction of sunrise and night light is an impressive grunge-flavored album with a number of easy hits among the tracks. It is a shame that Deadman did not continue to make music; in the end, we can only hope that the talent behind this band will re-emerge somewhere else.
THE GOOD
Star Baby
It’s not really often that an intro can grab my attention as much as “Star Baby” did. Even though it’s only a short minute-and-a-half intro, it is fantastic, rocketing the listener straight into the album with a quick pace and setting the album’s mood right off the bat.
Rip Roll Soil
“Star Baby” leads straight into “Rip Roll Soil.” I’ve honestly got no idea what the name is supposed to mean, but a nonsensical title does nothing to detract from this song. This song is all about the vocals, showcasing Mako’s voice; we even get to hear his incredible range, since he sings in three different octaves. All of the vocal work has been mixed together into a very unique and strange sound that really works. The vocal work on the chorus just adds to the strange sound with an almost wailing quality. The guitars have a very heavy and catchy riff, but despite the talented work, they are only secondary to the vocals for “Rip Roll Soil.”
Raison d’Etre
“Raison d’Etre” launches off with a heavy guitar riff. The vocals provided by Mako are just brilliant in this song and prove to be the main focus again, despite all the other fantastic instrumentals going on. His voice is one of the most impressive parts of this band and one of the most talented I’ve heard, and this song showcases his control perfectly. There is a brief silence halfway through the song that continues to throw me off every time I hear this song, but despite this break in the song, “Raison d’Etre” still manages to jam straight to the end, finishing off with a strong guitar solo.
Asthenia Bullet Stain
“Asthenia Bullet Stain” just starts off on a rocking note with jamming grunge guitars and drums. This is one of the grittier songs on this album, with a rougher sound to the normally smooth vocals during the verses. It is intricately composed, handing the spotlight seamlessly between vocals and guitars during the verses. This skillful composition continues throughout the song, with different musical themes flowing perfectly from one to another as the verses transition into the chorus and back again. Some echo effects add a nice chaotic edge, ensuring that this song is always interesting. Musically, “Asthenia Bullet Stain” is the best written song on this album.
Follow the night light
Off-beat guitars and drums lead quickly into “Follow the night light.” The vocals begin deceptively quiet, throwing out rapid-fire lyrics against the spare background. As the song goes on, though, it evolves into a smoother sound, with Mako singing out strongly against a full chorus sound. A highlight was the guitar solo. Although it was not really impressive as far as points for difficulty go, I found it refreshing to hear a guitar solo that isn’t purely about virtuoso technicality. The solo here is one that flows naturally out of the song, so that it is an extension of the emotions evoked in the melody. It is a perfect addition to an outstanding song.
this day. this rain.
This song really surprised me when it popped up on a shuffle through my iTunes one day. What started out as mere background music ended up grabbing my attention so much that I stopped what I was doing to listen to it. Rather than begin with a hard-driving rhythm and melody, the purposefully discordant first half of the song is deceptively calm and almost unimportant. And then, halfway through, it suddenly has so many layers that have slowly been developing throughout the song, that you never really notice until it all builds up into an intense atmosphere. This is what initially grabbed me, and I’ve had this song on repeat ever since. Everything in this song is well-done, from the vocals masterfully performed by Mako, to the graceful lyrics, to the guitar flourishes, percussion, and background vocals. “This day. this rain.” is an excellent and very interesting song that has quickly found a place on my favorites list.
The Rating: 8
Reviewed by: dheu
