Here It Is: Rhapsody of the Darkness
Single: Rhapsody of the Darkness
Artist: Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-
Release Date: April 25th, 2012
(Yes, this is delayed. It also will not be formal, like other reviews I've posted or are resting at VK Photography NL).
The single as a whole is very good, I will say. But the two songs contrast each other in an interesting but somewhat confusing fashion... they don't seem to flow together at all. And that's not to say that they have to (For example, "Libido" had nothing to do with "Destiny -the Lovers-", but "Glowing Butterfly" did sit nicely in between the two as a sort of buffer). "Illusion" gives a weird feeling anyway. I'll get to that momentarily. "Rhapsody of the Darkness" even in title alone, makes a very bold statement, and "Illusion" somewhat crumbles beneath its mighty weight. I think some of my disappointment/confusion sits with how much hype both songs received prior to their official release...
"Rhapsody of the Darkness" has the best intro one could think of for a song so steeped in.. well, darkness. The pipe organ is notoriously haunting, so what better choice could have been made? I also think that the chorus following the intro, in the beginning, is also very appropriate. Or perhaps it's not a chorus, but Kamijo's voice layered over itself, but whatever. The aesthetic is obviously Versailles, clear from the beginning. It's really what I was expecting from them.
The only con I can think of is that the guitar chords during the chorus are very dull, however, the overall melody was pleasing to the ear, so I approve. And the high note Kamijo gets at 4min. is honestly the best I can recall from him; very smooth.
"Illusion" was a disappointment to me, I must confess. I do not dislike it, but I did/do not find it amazing either. It sounds like another band wrote it, if I'm completely honest. The bridge of the song is undoubtedly my favorite portion, that and the piano, bass, and vocal portion leading into the final bridge (so toward the end). They were the most romantic and... fluid, even. Most of all, the transition between the two songs is not there, as I mentioned before.
And I'm confused (and someone has agreed with me)... Why was everyone (who heard it at the lives) calling this a "wintery" song before??! Honestly?
So anyway, those are my official opinions. I do like the single; I've listened to it several times now to get a feel for it, and I approve. I think I set myself up to be more excited than really necessary, especially for "Illusion", but "Rhapsody of the Darkness" is great. I can't imagine there would be any regrets in purchasing it.