#paced

* long formed, or rather

paced

to a metronome of ones own;

synchronized to a heartbeat, a breath

a gestured glance response to a simmered thought,

is a soul no longer caught up in arbitrary oughts,

for once, for always;

...the apex of a living being.

a soul's steps shan't be pre-ordained, as

free will was an essential, divinely assigned

should we incline toward our origins.

should we not, then it's time to hang it up;

because if our steps are not our own,

all & any of our paces...

from a baby's cry, rump-slapped at birth to breathe,

to an infirm octogenarian's last aspiration

will become as null, literally & metaphorically

Here I am with the third part of June’s themed week in “Let’s Listen to”! Today’s subject is the latest work by the Japanese rock band SiM, precisely the fifth album THANK GOD, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO KiLL ENEMiES, came out on 17th June 2020. The album’s concept deals with the band’s resistance against criticism and obstacles, bringing them to what they are today, explaining the choice of the title. And now... let’s review!

-No One Knows: the album starts with a song featuring electronic shades and a pretty paced rhythm, leading up to an energetic theme; Mah’s voice is aggressive, keeping up a good song, with good technical shades. ---> 8.5/10

-SiCK: fast drums for this song, which maintains the energetic vibe of the previous one, along with a good rhythm and rapid vocals, bringing a bit of positivity inside the melody; a refreshing song which steps up the album’s style. ---> 9/10

-Devil in Your Heart: one of the lead tracks of the album is kicked off by Mah’s extremely grotesque vocals, but in line with the style offered so far; the sound is energetic and paced, along with a peculiar dark shade which makes it quite different than expected; a catchy and pumping track. ---> 9/10

-Heads Up: this song starts with a pounding drum work, mixed up with a raging guitar, along with Mah’s estranging and effected vocals; the melody features upbeat notes and an interesting reggae vibe, for a quite nice tune in its own. ---> 8/10

-Baseball Hat: the second lead song of the album sees a relevant drum work and strong screamos, leading up to a fast and paced melody, well built by the guitar and the vocals; an energetic track, with an interesting technique, working thanks to the guitar work, which improves in the second part. ---> 9/10

-Smoke in the Sky: the reggae vibe comes back with this song, animated by positive vocals and an electronic upbeat melody; the track gets even more facets, thanks to Mah’s heavy tones and a technical improvement, especially in the breakdown, evolving it in an interesting way. ---> 9/10

-Black & White: a living and fast guitar opens the song, leading up to a paced and energetic rhythm; the vocals are quite regular and pretty flowing, featuring rapping parts accompained by a relevant bass work; a quite nice track. ---> 8/10

-Crying for the Moon: this song starts with strong drums mixed with good electronic notes, a peculiar intro leading up to a reggae-ish melody; the vocals are quite various, with a catchy refrain and a formulaic structure in general. ---> 8.5/10

-Yo-Ho: a relevant guitar opens up this song, leading up to fast rhythm and a grotesque rock melody; Mah’s vocals are unpredictable, going from light to aggressive in a bit, surrounded by a more relevant rhythm, helped by a nice technical shade, coming from the guitar. ---> 8.5/10

-CAPTAiN HOOK: another lead of the album, characterized by an articulated rhythm and an energetic melody, where the vocals are fast and piercing, keeping up the whole thing; the refrain appears quite simple compared to the rest, in a nice song, whose melody is empowered by the guitar’s presence. ---> 8.5/10

-Sand Castle (ft Akkogorilla): the lead-track of the 11th single is kicked off by fast and living percussions, leading up to a pretty unusual melody; Mah’s rapping voice works quite well, along with Akkogorilla’s interesting presence; a catchy song, with a bit of strangeness which is quite enjoyable. ---> 8/10

-Bully: the lead-track of the 12th single is opened by an energetic guitar and alternating vocals, between screamo and auto-tune, building up a fast rock melody, for a short and enjoyable song. ---> 8/10

-Fathers: another lead-track of the album, opened by a strong guitar, which leads up to a more positive and flowing rock melody, well paced; the vocals are pretty bright, giving more depth to the song, even thanks to a nice upbeat vibe; a pretty intense track. ---> 9/10

-DiAMOND: the lead song of the ninth single kicks off with a strong rhythm and intense guitar notes, with Mah’s living vocals keeping up a paced melody, dyed by electronic shades; in the second part the melody becomes more aggressive and technical, making it even better than expected. ---> 9/10

-NO SOLUTiON: this song starts straight with aggressive and energetic notes, driven by a strong guitar work and unregular vocals; a nice track, catchy to the right point, even in its heaviest side. ---> 9/10

-LET iT END: the main theme of the 8th single starts with an interesting combination of drums and guitar, in a fast rhythm wrapping inside a good and energetic melody; Mah’s voice is fierce and aggressive, keeping up the whole thing, helped by a relevant guitar presence; a good track in its own. ---> 8.5/10

-LiON’S DEN: the album ends with the main track of the 10th single, where the melody assumes a punk vibe, closer to SiM’s musical roots; the vocals are piercing and well fit into the melody; an energetic and attractive song, which ends the album in a coherent way. ---> 9/10

Final Vote ---> 8.5/10

After four years, the freaking rock band SiM delivers another full album, composed of all the themes brought out in that time frame. The band didn’t change at all their style, as shown in this release, but didn’t fear to include some novelty and refreshness for a sound which already stuck in most people’s head. The energy, the unpredictable turns in their melodies, the vocal versatility and the refined technique are the most relevant features, accompained by a nice duet and some weird shade, with some working more than others. THANK GOD, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO KiLL ENEMiES is a great comeback for a distinctive band like SiM, and despite the formulaic structure of the same, is not hard to appreciate the content as whole, especially if in need of energy for this peculiar Summer. An album for who waited for SiM’s comeback in full and needs energy and crazyness summarized in music.

That’s all folks! See you with the final part of June’s themed week in “Lyrical Love”!

Thanks for the reading!

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REVIEWS

LiFE AND DEATH (02.05.2012)

SPECIALS

Here I am with a new song analysis in “Lyrical Love”! Today’s subject is always related to the visual kei band Dadaroma, but this time we are talking about one of their most recent works, the song 「Day By Day」, the lead-track and final song of their sixth mini-album Dadaism #5, came out on 30th October 2019. This song is definitely their most unusual one, as it goes to the opposite spectrum of their style, dealing with a simple theme, fit for everyone.

THE MUSIC

A paced and peculiarly clear theme opens this song, empowered by an energetic and flowing guitar; Yoshiatsu’s voice is light and animated, where he doesn’t hesitate to include some screamo, giving some depth to his vocal performance; the song is really attractive and engaging thanks to its catchy and simple nature, a surprising thing for Dadaroma.

Lyrics (Romaji)

Furimukeba zuibun to aruitekita na boroboro sa zuibun to nodo mo kawaite “DAY BY DAY” Soshite yoru ga aketeiku yoru ga aketeiku nani mo shiranai ohisama ga kyou mo “ohayou” da nante iiyagaru no sa yoru ga aketeiku Hajime kara shitteita kizuiteita’n da koroshiau sekai da kizuiteita’n da mushi no hane wo moide warau yatsu ga katsu’n da Soshite yoru ga aketeiku yoru ga aketeiku nani mo shiranai ohisama ga kyou mo “ohayou” da nante iiyagaru no sa yoru ga aketeiku “DAY BY DAY” yoru ga aketeiku yoru ga aketeiku yoru ga aketeiku yoru ga aketeiku nani mo shiranai ohisama ga kyou mo “ohayou” da nante iiyagaru no sa yoru ga aketeiku kara

Lyrics (Translation)

I looked around, walking a lot I am really exhausted, with thirsty throat “Day by day” (I)

And then The dawn is rising The dawn is rising I say that an unknown day is still a “good morning” The dawn is rising (II)

Realizing to know since the beginning Being aware of the world where we kill each other Who is with insect wings will win

And then The dawn is rising The dawn is rising I say that an unknown day is still a “good morning” The dawn is rising (III) “Day by day”

The dawn is rising The dawn is rising 

The dawn is rising The dawn is rising I say that an unknown day is still a “good morning” The dawn is rising (IV)

THE WORDS

Written by the singer Yoshiatsu, this song represents a meaningful change for Dadaroma, in terms of style. Compared to the more complex and multi-layered Oboreru sakana, 「Day By Day」 sees an easier layout, made of repeated lines and simple words, even if they hide a deeper nature behind them, a change surely linked to their first oversea appearance, occurred some month earlier. The core theme, as explained by the band, is the ambition which leads someone to live day after day, in view of an imminent and radical change (a possible hint to the fact that the disbandment was an option but not the final solution). And now... let’s analyze the song!

I) The text starts with the protagonist, who is looking around while he is walking in his life (Furimukeba zuibun to aruitekita na), but the effort is so huge that he gets exhausted, with thirsty throat (boroboro sa zuibun to nodo mo kawaite), continuining to live day after day.

II) The dawn is rising, a sign of the beginning of a new day (Soshite/yoru ga aketeiku, the second line may be translated even as “the night is burning out”, hiding an image of the darkness which leaves for the light); he claims that an unknown day can be defined as a good one, as the uncertainity gives a sense to the existence (nani mo shiranai ohisama ga kyou mo “ohayou” da nante iiyagaru no sa) and making each dawn more meaningful than the previous one (the reason behind the repeated lines)

III) The protagonist realizes to know since the beginning of his life how the world is running, where people aim to kill each other violently (Hajime kara shitteita kizuiteita’n da/koroshiau sekai da kizuiteita’n da), where the winners are the ones with insect wings, the mean people, who make evil things for accomplishing their purposes (mushi no hane wo moide warau yatsu ga katsu’n da, this sequence is the sign that Dadaroma never gave out their dark and critic concept at all); the sequence ends with the repetition of the refrain.

IV) The text ends substantially with the repetition of the key lines, as to underline the concept of life lived a day at time, where nothing is certain at all.

The existence has to be tasted day after day, with the unpredictability and the darkness surrounding our world and the people living within it; Dadaroma changes their style, but not their nature, with an easy but efficient song, fit for any audience but deep and intense at the same time.

That’s all folks! See you with a new review in “Let’s Listen to”!