Because it's necessary!
D I M
「剥離」 [Hakuri]
Lay-man's expression, I thought it sounded like something you'd be hearing in the background of an oriental-set horror game while a character dialogue was being spelled out in a window. Personally, if I had to listen to an instrumental intro, I would have wanted it with a livelier ensemble of instruments. But for what Hakuri is, I say it's eerie, but undeniably nice! :D
THE INVISIBLE WALL
I was blown away by the preview of this song, so hearing the whole thing is just as amazing~ It's a newer kind of sound from GazE, but still very much suited to Ruki's vocal range. I love the guitars ♥♥♥
A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN
Mmm, bass intro~ I thought this would be another AGONY, but I guess not. xD I couldn't touch on the song for the first few bits, but it's how I like their music anyway. The instruments are gorgeous, I love how Ruki sings the words. And BY JESUS YOU SHOULD HEAR THE CHORUS! /spasms~~ *A*
LEECH
Everyone knows LEECH. xD Did they arrange for the vocals to stand out more, though? Even better~
泣ヶ原 [Nakigahara]
Uwaah~ this gives me the same feeling as Burial Applicant mixed with Baretta. The vocals are quiet, but it suits the song, and the instruments are always there to support it perfectly. By the time the chorus arrives, you can really feel Ruki's emotion. "Namida, namida, namida...". A long (7min) but downright epic song!
「エ リ カ」 [Erika]
Personally, stranger than Hakuri. Maybe this could be the intro BG music when you're on the "New Game", "Load Game" menu of that same video game? Haha. xD
HEADACHE MAN
Heee~ B-side made it to the album. HEADACHE MAN received really good feedback when it came out with DISTRESS & COMA, and it should still be the same case today. Amazing song--heavy, obscene like a 'fuck you' right in the face--which I love hearing from these boys.
紅蓮 [Guren]
Is different from the single-version! I don't mind, this version is just as beautiful, if not more for just a few tweaks in lyrics. Love this song even more than I did before ♥
「子宮」 [Shikyuu]
Wow. What the. This...just adds to the pain expressed in Guren. So fitting.
13STAIRS[-]1
Okay, this is, without a doubt, my favorite of the new songs in the album. I absolutely miss the raw emotion (anger, distress, everything) in this song. And these daring guitar riffs, and really, the general effect of it all. The arrangement is to die for♥. The chorus is to die for♥. The instruments are to die for♥. Vocals are to ABSOLUTELY DIE FOR♥♥♥. Argh. I...can't even talk properly. I'd write in all-caps if I didn't want to make this a proper review. xD But yes, it's the one song I've been listening to continuously since I got the album. Personally recommended ♥
DISTRESS AND COMA
MUST I TALK ABOUT THIS SONG. Ya'll know how hyped up I was about it when it came out...how until now, it's still on my "Repeat Endlessly For Hours" playlist. Agh, awesome as ever.
「感触」 [Kanshoku]
Calm, but you expect something to suddenly happen, for some reason. Beautiful instrumental!
白き優鬱 [Shiroki Yuuutsu]
WOW. This kind of GazE song is quite, quite new to me. This is so gentle...so calm and perfectly arranged. I fell in love with every bit and part of it. And oh dear lord, that guitar solo, that chorus~ so beautiful. ;-;
IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS
Some parts remind me of present day American Punk-Rock (like Good Charlotte as agewa suggested), but it's still very much GazE. Vocally, a little lighter in contrast with the AWESOMELY EPIC INSTRUMENTS (I can't get over the guitar in this song!), but still very Ruki. ♥
「朦朧」 [Mourou]
Strange mix--kind of like static noise with screams at the back. It gets you feeling excited again. Or at least, ready for the next song~
OGRE
I can imagine the live for this so well--headbangs, spotlight on the two guitars, before lights explode at each side to illuminate the whole stage. By then, Ruki's on the talking part, which is slow, mysterious...before it starts all over again with the unison growls, and everyone just headbanging until their necks snap. This is mindblowing!
DIM SCENE
Given the (magnificent, violin+guitars) intro, I thought DIM SCENE would be something like People Error. But it's a full song, that, perhaps unsurprisingly, does not disappoint! Has all the same epic elements I likes in 13STAIRS[-]1, but slightly slower...hypnotic, even. Gosh, this is a ridiculously good song♥
The Album In General
This album was very, very well arranged. The instruments, the vocals, ugh, really, everything, I can't even explain it. Takes my breath away like no other. All the GazE elements that we know and love are here, plus some deviations that are both surprising, and surprisingly pleasing.
And if you would try imagining how the lives would look like, especially the -DIM SCENE- tour finale...it just makes me so impatient. I can't wait for it (not that I'm going but, lol, I'll get the DVD). But until then, the album is more than enough to satiate. ♥