3 posts tagged “dali”
Well here is the last entry in Dali’s three-month consecutive release campaign. No news yet on what the title of this one might signify. Like the other two, it’s two tracks and a limited release.
Dali
Endroll
Genre: rock, metal, visual kei
Release Date: 06-25-08
Price: 1,200 ¥
Released By: Under Code Productions
Tracks: 2
01.Endroll
02.Fake a Go Go
Endroll is more of a ballad than Heroine was, and as such,
will probably garner all sorts of negative reviews. However, I’m going
to say it’s actually the best song off all three releases. I love Ren’s
singing here, it’s so mellow and soft. I also find the main riff
extremely interesting. It reminds me of something, but I can’t say
what. The guitar solo halfway through was really good as well.
The whole song has this restrained, yet epic feel to it, that’s really
different for them. I’m still wondering what the whole Endroll thing
signifies though. The song really does seem like a transition somehow.
Fake a Go Go naturally reminds me of the Merry song with almost the same name. Well, it’s completely the opposite of the title track, it’s the token heavy song, I suppose. That sort of makes me resent it, but no it’s actually a lot better than the b-side from Heroine. The bass and drum attack is relentless throughout, and Ren never really screams, just doing that soft growl-singing he’s known for. The guitars aren’t completely useless either. But I didn’t like the repetitive pounding at the start of the track and also near the end. It didn’t feel necessary to the song, which isn’t really as heavy as it initially makes you think.
Well, the first time through, I wasn’t sure this single was as good as the previous ones, but after a few more listens, I’ve decided that it is, in fact, the best one. I like that they went ahead and did a ballad and I also like that the b-side wasn’t just some heavy sludge to make up for the a-side. Both songs seemed well thought-out and well-constructed. Endroll reminded me of my favorite Phantasmagoria tracks, and that is definitely a good thing.
Final Word: They saved the best for last, as it should be. ★★★★☆
Key:
★★★★★ = Excellent, flawless, perfecto
★★★★☆ = Very good, has some minor flaws
★★★☆☆ = Good, maybe a few boring moments, but overall enjoyable
★★☆☆☆ = Fair, bad outweighs the good
★☆☆☆☆ = Poor, possibly offensive to your ears
This is Dali’s second release in their three consecutive campaign, coming a little over a month after their last one. Their next, and last one, will be Endroll on June 25th. While the last release was a very mellow, almost ballad track, followed by an angry mosher, this single is more typical Dali. Melancholy, somewhat laid-back, but still rockin’.
Dali
Inkblot
Genre: rock, metal, visual kei
Release Date: 05-28-08
Price: 1,200 ¥
Released By: Under Code Productions
Tracks: 2
01.Inkblot
02.Essence
Inkblot establishes the faster tempo right away, but Ren is still singing. He has a strong, yet whispery voice. Very different from most of the vocalists in VK. I love how the guitars dance around the main line, which is mostly the bass, playing higher. A nice, though fairly standard, solo comes about halfway through, followed by a bit of a bridge. There’s a few tempo changes and the chorus isn’t repeated a lot, which is good, because I think it’s a very intriguing chorus. Definitely love the bass line though.
Essence is the b-side, and it’s a little different. Mostly because of the odd, bubbling, watery effect that takes over the music at times. The main hook is repeated quite a bit and the chorus is somewhat forgettable. I like Ren’s voice still, and the bass occasionally has some nifty interference, but overall I’d say this one is quite a bit less interesting than the title track.
Even though both songs are very good overall, as I said at the start, this release is very much typical Dali. There isn’t really anything new or unusual about it; unlike Heroine, of which the title track was very different for them, and earned strong opinions on either side. That’s not to say I don’t like it, I do, very much so. But I always prefer when bands broaden their horizons a bit.
Final Word: not as fundamentally interesting as the previous month’s release. ★★★☆☆
Key:
★★★★★ = Excellent, flawless, perfecto
★★★★☆ = Very good, has some minor flaws
★★★☆☆ = Good, maybe a few boring moments, but overall enjoyable
★★☆☆☆ = Fair, bad outweighs the good
★☆☆☆☆ = Poor, possibly offensive to your ears
Dali is an Under Code band that used to be known as Dari, and I have actually been following them since their first release, in early 2006. They haven’t released an album yet, just a couple handfuls of singles and minis. This is their first release of 2008 and the first of a three-month consecutive release campaign, which I plan to follow with reviews.
Their sound is a dark, crunchy rock, similar to say, Girugamesh, but it’s not as screamy and simplistic as that band can sometimes be. Ren is a very capable vocalist and they experiment with styles more. It amazes me a bit that they’re still pretty under the radar for as good as they are.
Dali
Heroine
Genre: rock, metal, visual kei
Release Date: 04-23-08
Price: 1,200 ¥
Released By: Under Code Productions
Tracks: 2
01.Heroine
02.Satsui no baka
Heroine is one of those songs where Ren actually sings, albeit softly, almost in the background. It has a fast, somewhat off-beat drumline, but the guitars are slower and mournful, it’s an interesting contrast. There are several tempo changes too, but one of the things I’ve always admired about them is their clean sound. There isn’t a lot of extra noise going on. You can hear both guitars clearly, no messy cymbal smashes, and though the bass is a bit hidden, this doesn’t strike me as a song where it needs to be prominent anyway. It’s a pretty mellow rock track and ends on a fade out.
Satsui no baka is next, and this is a little more typical Dali. But again, even though this song is closer to the crunchy down-tuned rock we’re used to hearing from these sort of bands, it’s still clean. It never builds itself into a wall of noise. Ren’s death growls are fairly impressive, I’d say. He combines that with a little falsetto every other verse, then sings with a vocal distorter the rest of the time. The song is simple, but effective, coming after the title track.
I have to say that I’ve really never been disappointed in anything Dali’s put out. They’re a very consistent band for being indie and being on Under Code, and unlike a lot of bands on that label that get accused of going creatively bankrupt after a few years, Dali seems to be as strong as they were two years ago, perhaps stronger. I’m definitely looking forward to the next two releases they have planned.
Final Word: it could have used a third track, but I always say that. Very solid release from these guys. ★★★★☆
Key:
★★★★★ = Excellent, flawless, perfecto
★★★★☆ = Very good, has some minor flaws
★★★☆☆ = Good, maybe a few boring moments, but overall enjoyable
★★☆☆☆ = Fair, bad outweighs the good
★☆☆☆☆ = Poor, possibly offensive to your ears
