REVIEW: DEATHGAZE's CREATURE

CREATURE is DEATHGAZE's 5th album release! Having been around for nearly 10 years, let's see what kind of sound they have put together for us.

Tracklist:

1) BRAND NEW KISS

2) RING THE DEATH KNELL

3) USELESS SUN

4) VICE

5) NEWBORN - wrongful life

6) SILENCE

7) MALICE

8) SUICIDE DANCE

9) DISGUSTING EYE

10) SLEEP IN THE RAIN

11) CREATURE

12) GLORY SKY

Note: All comparisons I make between the songs on this album and any other songs are strictly to give you an idea of what the song sounds like to me. The English lyrics I put in come from the booklet, but since my ability to read Japanese is limited, a lot of those will be written based on what I hear. (I will try my best to make the lyrics accurate).

Before I talk about the music, I’d just like to state my thoughts of the album and it’s art. Kudos to Ai! Since he is in charge of the artwork, I have to give him some serious credit as the entire album is silver. Not just the CD, but the jacket too! You look at it, and you can see your face! With the woman on the side blind-folded, it’s like he’s saying “Look who’s the CREATURE.” Seriously, you guys. If you could just hold the regular edition, it’s impressive! I imagine the limited edition is like this, but only with a red tint. Almost as if you’re covered in blood. You open the album, and it’s still silver. The CD, the outside of the booklet (the inside is black with interesting, grotesque images here and there).


The first track of this album, “BRAND NEW KISS” automatically makes you want to turn down the volume as it has a very fast, “attention-grabbing” opening. Not only that, but DEATHGAZE is known for their heavy introductions, so please keep that in mind when listening to them anywhere. It started with Ai screaming “ALL OF THE THOUGHTS IN THIS WORLD, LET ME KNOW ALL OF YOUR WORDS” as Takaki, Kosuke and Naoki play heavily. Almost immediately, the song takes on it‘s new outlook as the melody of the song becomes more uplifting as the chords change and Ai enters with backing vocals of the other members. It makes me smile to hear it. At about 1:48 there’s a wonderful head banging moment as Ai screams in the background “NOW I’LL SING. BORN INTO MY HATE. DON’T FORGET YOUR MIND”. It is then followed by a guitar solo at 2:14. The lyrics go from mostly English in the first verse to Japanese in the next and Ai exits with the same line he started with. It does make me think that DEATHGAZE is trying for an alternative sound. I love how the song closes. It spirals into the different tempos used and then ends.

"RING THE DEATH KNELL HERE" only continues the hype from track one, but holds a faster tempo. You can’t help but try to attempt to sing along (or at least I can’t). The English lyrics are screamed or whispered (except for the lines “I FEEL SICK, JUST RING THE DEATH KNELL HERE”). It’s hard to headbang to the beat because it's so fast. If you try, you could sprain your neck. There are small solos scattered through out the song. All you can really do is dance like a crazy person….as long as you’re alone. It sounds well put together like a recording should, but almost as unpredictable as when heard live. The beat changes, slowing down as Takaki drops out -- leaving Kosuke to play parts of the main beat, but quickening with the guitar. The main guitar solo is found at around 2:03, after Ai screams “I’M GOING INSANE”. There’s riffs on every corner of it, making it feel extremely fast paced. The song is almost hurried! It’s amazing how 4 minutes can feel like 7 when you double the tempo. The song turns choppy, each stroke of the guitar and bass following Ai’s words “I FEEL SICK AND THINK ABOUT WORLD. EYE SORE FOR ME. JUST RING THE DEATH KNELL HERE”. The song plays out to the end and fades away.

Track 3, "USELESS SUN", follows in the short silence.  I like how the drums in the beginning match with the drums from Track 2, it’s almost like a continuing story! The tempo slows after a few seconds--a nice way to help you calm down after hearing “RING THE DEATH KNELL”. Since this song was previously released as a single, the melody is easy for me to sway to. The guitar being played with single strokes in the background (as opposed to it's usual grandeur presense) is a nice way of telling you that your end is near. The solo at 2:21 after Ai screams “OH” is like a small defiance to that. Around the same time, you hear a distorted, broken voice saying these words “Don’t fake your life - inhale it. And then you’ll know yourself. The change that is goddamn electric will focus the mind’s eye.” After a heavily dropped beat, the song rounds back to the main lyrics. It’s not exactly something to go wild to, but it’s a great song just to move to. I realized, as Ai screams his last lyric, the song was re-recorded. It captures your attention as the song closes.

"VICE" is a bit slower and simpler than "USELESS SUN", but… the beginning is a bit difficult to explain. It reminds me of “unchain wing” from their album AWAKE -evoke the urge- for about 10 seconds, then, after a scream, the way of how the guitar is played changes then reminds me of “Sadistic Desire” or “Vanishing Visions” by X JAPAN for a while. The beat to this song is so obvious as your ears get used to it. I think this song has a lazier feel than "USELESS SUN". Parts of the melody remind me of how "BRAND NEW KISS" sounded too, but mostly in the beginning. For the main chorus, Ai whispers the Japanese lyrics, only later to scream “VICE VICE”--a nice contrast to both the climax of the song and the feel. In the middle of the song, Ai screams “THESE ARE MY SINS, THESE ARE MY FATE. JUST AIM AND DEEP SCARS”. Takaki’s solo starts at 2:48 and the song then sounds fuller as he returns. It goes back to a simple feel during the lyrics “I’VE TRIED TRUE VICE, ACCEPT MY VICE” as he continues to repeat “Kuareta kimi wa… dare yori kirei sa VICE VICE hohoende. Kaushite kimi ga…. shinu nodo kirei sa VICE VICE kuchizukete.” You don’t quite realize that the song has ended until the next track plays.

"NEWBORN - wrongful life" is a song that confuses me. It starts out slow, following the same idea as "VICE", but then suddenly speeds up. Though, I completely understand the lyrics being nothing but insults in distorted screams, I'm still left baffled. Usually when they make songs like this or are cursing in any shape or form, they scream it in English. Although it sounds much more effective, because the worst parts of the English vocabulary are being screamed to you… you’d think there would be something warning you. (I mean, didn't the GazettE have a Parental Advisory or something?). I guess if you aren't hardcore enough for DEATHGAZE, just take a step back.
After sitting for about 30 seconds, I understood the tempo changes and how the lyrics fit, but nearly all of my comprehension was destroyed at about 2:58 where the song was basically bashed out with all emotions--all the way through to the end. I’m not saying the song was bad, I’m saying the song is powerful and a bit difficult to follow if you aren't listening carefully. The song’s composition is indecisive, but the lyrics describe a situation where there is one person in your presence that you loathe. You hate them so much that you proceed to curse them out and tell them that they don’t belong here. This isn't exactly a song that I would ever-so-gladly play and explain to absolutely everyone around me, but the idea of it is really interesting for you to try to comprehend.

"SILENCE" then plays, making me happy to hear the familiar tune. The first members playing are Naoki and Kosuke--holding the beat for the song. The ups and downs in it's harmony to match Ai’s vocals (either growling, screaming, singing, or whispering) fit perfectly together. The lyrics of the song are deeper than they appear to be; the song is about struggle and the inability to be recognized by those around you. Multiple times, the guitar accompanies the bass, making it’s beat heavier and more profound, and many times the guitar floats off in to either a higher or lower octave and begins playing the harmony.  The guitar solo at 2:13 is something that stands out so well with it's fluttery sound. The mood shifts abruptly as Ai screams, especially with the following lyrics “I’M NOT SPEAKING TONGUES, LISTEN YOU LITTLE SH*T. HOPE TO WIN THE PEACE IN NEW WORLD. I LOVE YOU.” Again, this is a song where the English lyrics are screamed to you because of their power. I really like how much the tempo changes in this song, making it feel much longer than just 4 minutes. The song circles to finish and obtains it’s subtle end.

"MALICE" is also a song with a fairly quick tempo -- or so I thought. Ai enters with an extremely slow, yet elegant, melody in comparison to the harmony. The contrast gives the idea of dragging shadows to me. From that point, your outlook of the song’s emotion changes. It’s definitely a lot deeper than you’d think it’s intention to be. Through out the song, Naoki plays the cymbals on the drums, making the song have a more cyber-metal feel to it. At 2:09 it sounds like they have synthesized the drums(No, I do not think there is dubstep mixed into this song in anyway). I really love how this song was written as there are small riffs, drum solos, and a small complexity to how each instrument is played. A voice that sounds like it’s from the radio is heard saying “Why do you always break my balls? Why do you always contradict what I say? You’re always accusing me. I don’t know what to do.” The song plays out it's beat with the quickly tapped cymbals. I realize the this is one of the "softer" songs on the album.

The next song, "SUICIDE DANCE", has an interesting beat. I can’t help but laugh when I hear a “whoo!” at 0:11. After that, Ai continuously sings in a mellow tone. His voice is sassy and the song is dark (and for some reason I think of "MY DEVIL ON THE BED" and "LEECH" by the GazettE). The song is also easy to compare it to their song “IRIDIZE DREAM” from their previous album BLISS OUT -- I guess it’s because the tempo and chords sound similar. The jazzy mood continues and, as if to add some "soul" to the song, you hear Kosuke and Takaki singing the backing vocals with Ai. In the main chorus, he occasionally growls “LET’S VAIN” in a low voice (every other line). It reminds you who this band is, especially at 2:30 and 3:20 where there is a constant chanting. (I can imagine this song being played live with an epic fist pump session). There isn't really a long guitar solo, but it's definitely there at 1:54 if you listen carefully. The song ends with the previously said chant, sounding like a riot passing by to move the album along.

"DISGUSTING EYE" begins with a completely new feel in comparison to "SUICIDE DANCE". It's much heavier and hold a faster beat--nearly double the previous track. Ai enters screaming the main chorus "ROARING IN MY HEAD, DISGUSTING EYE...." Again, he’s screaming the English lyrics and singing the Japanese ones. Each time, there is a small contrast between the two settings, making you want to listen. Especially here when there's a surprise guitar riff at 1:10. After the second play of the main chorus, the beat changes--switching off to a guitar solo at about 1:45. The mood in the harmony and melody changes yet again after the solo introduced by Ai's voice. It goes through a spiral of sound, like going through a maze. Then it changes to a spiral of going downstairs at 2:29 and “lands” at the previous mood. The song circles back to the very first motions with Ai screaming "DON'T LOOK AWAY" and heads toward it’s closing as he screams "DISGUSTING EYE. I SAW, CARRY OUT FOR ME."

"SLEEP IN THE RAIN" has a very dream-like quality. Almost like a nightmare or as if you’re hallucinating. It feels like falling deeper in to the darkness as the chorus plays. At 1:40-1:45, the way how Ai sings and plays guitar, they remind me of “Secret In My Heart” by VAMPS; especially in the lyrics “I wish to runaway. The things I’ve done to you. I’ve been so faraway. Leaving me alone in fear.” It’s just the way he’s singing, he way his voice whines a bit at the end of some words just strikes me that way. The song does sound like their own, though, with the way his voice floats in and out of the music and small ballads. This song is written completely in English, so it's easy for me to understand that he is calling out to someone as he is indecisive, but trying to go after them. He is "CALLING YOU." He screams "Why are you gone? Left me behind" and repeats it, blaming them for leaving him in whatever situation he's facing. The final lines "I'm following your heart and walking in the rain until the end of the whole world" bring you to the end of the song.

"THE END" begins with it's usual easy tempo. Drums introduce the rest of the band, bringing us gradually to the vocals. The song is sung/screamed completely in English, the lyrics mostly repeated through out and have occasional changes. Again, he's blaming you, telling you to take all punishments that come your way. "FEEL THE AGONY CRAWLING ON YOUR KNEES. FEEL THE HEARTBEAT AND THE BLOODSHED." The song clearly displays a character full of resentment and anger, but the compisition is very choppy. I don't mean "choppy" in a negative sense, but the way how each instrument is played and how quickly the beat changes without much if a transition. Occasionally there are the drums building and fading between a highly amplified guitar or the soft beats of the bass. After Ai says "I ASK YOU REAL HOPE," the guitar solo begins at about 2:47, introduced by a quick scale at 2:45. Ai repeats the previously mentioned line, exiting on the line "KEEP A TEARFUL EYE ON THE END OF THE WORLD."

"CREATURE" has an interesting new opening. Rather than beginning with the moderate tempo of guitar and drums, it takes on a different approach. Ai enters in the small silence, whispering “Here we go….to the end…. Make me feel like breaking my head…” The lyrics continue, building from a whisper to a scream.  Once we reach the height of the song, Ai continues screaming through out, giving us encouragements as he sings “Come on, Spill It! Come on, Creature!” The song has no particular main melody. It’s pieced together with different verses that are repeated over through out. He shifts from screaming to singing as he says “Living body, claim back real life,” beginning the 3rd verse of this song. He screams “1 2 3 Ready go!” and the song return to a harder beat as he screams. It's one of the songs that could have been written as a filler, but, with it sharing the title of the alum, I'm not entirely sure what to think of this song. His chanting follows a repitition of some lyrics and the song moves quickly to a conclusion.

"GLORY SKY" does not sound like the usual DEATHGAZE we are used to. In fact it sounds more like something from the bands Dear Bitch or DyIng messagE...maybe even Ga♂ru. I say this because the whole feel of the song, the composition, it makes me think of the horizon line, either with the break of dawn or a darkening sky. Of course, you compare this song to their other slower songs with an almost similar feeling (ie. "BRAND NEW KISS") and there is no doubt that this is DEATHGAZE. As Ai enters the song, the guitar‘s amp is lowered, only ever entering fully when he isn’t singing or during the main chorus. Ai’s voice is a bit slurred from the vocal distortion, dragging and making the song sound lazier. It fits nicely with the feeling of the track--especially transitioning over to the guitar solo at about 2:30. The song holds out this beat, making it a nice final composition. The way how it’s written, it’s like Ai wrote this thinking "I want this album to finish the same way it started." Ai continues the melody, exiting the song in a vibrato. It ends with the cymbals from the drums being played in the background--the perfect and ironic ending to an extremely heavy album.

Overall, this album is awesome. Of course, that could be a bit biased because I’m a DEATHGAZE fan, but eh. It’s not all screams (like “Genocide and Mass murder”), nor is it written in nearly entirely soft tempos (like THE CONTINUATION --though that also had cover songs). It’s some where between AWAKE-evoke the urge- and BLISS OUT in terms of both emotional appeal in the lyrics and the power of the music itself (ie. headbang rhythms! Haha~). It does sound like they are attempting some new sounds here and there, making this album sound nearly like a general compilation. It's like they are working towards an album to surpass their best one, in my opinion, BLISS OUT. They're getting dangerously close to it! It's as if each song is a different thought of the woman on the cover.

There’s also literally only two songs that were not completely composed by Ai: "NEWBORN - wrongful life" (composed by Naoki) and "DISGUSTING EYE" (composed by Kosuke). Why is that? Well, Ai is the main songwriter for the band--and has been ever since the beginning! There's also the fact that there are four songs completely written in English, one after the other and I just find that an interesting set-up. One of the things I absolutely love about this album is that it's all metal (just about). Aside from the slight distortions (Ai’s voice floating into the “deep” edits or the drums being synthesized in tunes) that makes this band "neo-metal",  they give you an idea of what their energy is like live (though I have never seen them live in person…) and that is something I always look for in an album just as much as I look for the meaning behind the words. Speaking of words, the lyrics here are not what you would generally recite to someone you’re confessing to, nor would you want to fully quote the songs in front of your parents, but there’s pain, hope, love, and regret spread through out the tracks of the album--you just have to listen for it. I recommend this to both new and old DEATHGAZE fans as well as those who are simply curious.
You can order it here.

Sources: CREATURE booklet

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