ARTERY VEIN – Kagerou August 11, 2012

Track Listing

1. Kagerou
2. Getsugen
3. Kagerou -off vocal-
4. Getsugen -off vocal-

1. Kagerou

I was surprised coming into the duo’s fourth A-side because Kagerou is anything like the previous A-sides they’ve done.  As an ending theme do a video game, Kagerou does sound rather like a lot of ending theme ballads.  I’m not exactly sure who is leading the song (Eri?) but she sounds amazing in the song while Asami kind of fills the background and harmonizes.  Not a bad A-side but kind of forgetful at the same time.

2. Getsugen

It’s rather funny that I felt that the duo did a much better job with the B-side this time around!  Well, a little bit because it’s still a little meh in places but it has a bit more punch with the percussion and guitarwork of the song,  I’m also enjoying the fact that both gals are getting lines all over the place…I really like it. 

 

 

I wasn’t expecting both Eri and Asami to actually continue being ARTERY VEIN after their album but here we are with the first single, Kagerou.  I think the leading song, is alright but nothing really redeeming about it (though it is a bit lighter than their previous songs).  Getsugen is a lot better and a lot more like the previous works…that should’ve been the main song to be honest.

ARTERY VEIN – ARTERY VEIN April 7, 2012

Track Listing

1. Sanctus no Kanata ni
2. Splendid Flowers
3. Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari
4. Pandora no Yoru
5. Last Judgement
6. Yami ni Nureta Catastrophe
7. Mayoi no Mori
8. Confutatis no Inori
9. Sanctus no Kanata ni (ARTERY solo)
10. Pandora no Yoru (VEIN solo)
11. Confutatis no Inori (ARTERY solo)
12. Sanctus no Kanata ni (VEIN solo)

1. Sanctus no Kanata ni

Kicking things off, we jump in ARTERY VEIN’s album with the first of only two new songs in Sanctus no Kanata ni.  I really do enjoy that the piano kicks things off because it’s really gloomy and depressing of an intro (fits with their gothic style I guess).  As I learned that the deeper voice is ARTERY (Asami Imai) and the higher voice is VEIN (Eri Kitamura).  So I’ve noticed that Asami has been leading the songs for most of the era and she has a beautiful voice in this song.  It’s actually not a bad song funny enough and I love the chorus a lot.  Though it seems like Eri is just in the background.  Would’ve loved her being utilized more but I’m OK with this one. 

2. Splendid Flowers

Now the rest of the album is cluttered with old stuff minus one track.  Starting with the B-side from their debut single, “Confutatis no Inori”.  I still feel underwhelmed with this song because it felt so typical and doesn’t feel like it stands out amongst the other songs on the album sadly.  Once again I feel like Eri could’ve took over some places but ehhh beyond the beautiful ending to the song, this didn’t work for me.

3. Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari

The B-side from “Pandora no Yoru” comes up next and it’s definitely a ballad which is something I appreciated because we get to hear the beautiful melodies between Asami and Eri (despite Asami leading again).  It’s actually a pretty ballad and different because it has such a distant feeling to it that makes it pop out at me.  Pretty song!

4. Pandora no Yoru

Moving to the A-side, Pandora no Yoru might be least favorite of the A-sides but I do like the guitars of the song for some reason and the whole anison aspect of it really stands out.  Plus the verses with the cute but creepy instrument (xylophone?) is kind of interesting.  I can’t help but think Eri is bored with this song because she doesn’t seem as into it like the previous songs.  Yeah, that’s why I don’t find it as special as the other two A-sides.

5. Last Judgement

Then we move to the 2nd A-side released and I said Last Judgement was my favorite of the A-sides and it still holds strong because it’s edgier and heavier (even though the drumming is on the brink of annoyance).  I just love both ladies…powerful performance and just downright rockin’!

6. Yami ni Nureta Catastrophe

The other new song on the album (I swear they could’ve just released “Sanctus no Kanata ni” and made this song the B-side and then we would have just had an album of no new tracks), Yami ni Nureta Catastrophe is another ballad on the album and sadly I don’t remember it quite as well like “Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari”.  Beyond the good vocals, the song is just uneventful and kind of bored me the entire way.

7. Mayoi no Mori

Which is a problem in these two songs because both are the longest tracks on the album (“Yami ni Nureta Catastrophe” is 6 minutes long while this track is 7 and a half minutes).  As another ballad, Mayoi no Mori never stood out to me either on the “Last Judgement” single and continues to unimpress me here since it suffers from the same stuff the last song did (plus the added effect of being too long!).  Bleh song.

8. Confutatis no Inori

Then at the ending (well of the original songs) we get their debut A-side.  Confutatis no Inori is creepy but in a good way because I love both ladies singing in such a dark and mysterious vibe.  Plus hearing the bridge always gets me since it was handled so well.  Add in that the chorus makes things speed up surprised me.  Definitely a strong track here!

9. Sanctus no Kanata ni (ARTERY solo)

The rest of the album is solos between Asami and Eri which is nice but I wished it would be new tracks not already-known songs.  Both ladies do get their own version of Sanctus no Kanata ni which is nice right?  Of course it makes no sense really for Asami to have solos because she leads like majority of the songs.  Her deeper vocals really fit this style and I really enjoyed her singing.  Though I still hear backup vocals but whatever.

10. Pandora no Yoru (VEIN solo)

Pandora no Yoru is interesting because now I feel like I’ve done it wrong because Eri’s vocals are deeper than I thought and it makes me wonder who’s singing in the main tracks.  Her vocals does emote stronger I think while Asami’s has better control on the deeper tones (I don’t know anymore x.x).  Still, I was impressed by this song and she somehow sounds a little more lively?

11. Confutatis no Inori (ARTERY solo)

Asami once again gets a solo and that’s of their debut and she doesn’t sound as deep as she normally is.  I think Eri did a better job as coming off as creepy but it’s not to say I was impressed by Asami’s take on the song because she has this dark and hurt tone to her voice that’s really nice.  It’s alright but eh, I like the original.

12. Sanctus no Kanata ni (VEIN solo)

Finally we get Eri’s take on the new song.  Nothing really huge to report on here really since it’s just a different lady singing under the same arrangement really.  I mean it’s a nice version for her…though I just thought it was unneeded (like I feel for these other solo versions)

Tracks Recommended

• Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari
• Last Judgement
• Sanctus no Kanata ni
• Confutatis no Inori

Song of Avoidance

• Mayoi no Mori

I was pretty much disappointed with this release in many ways I think.  From the viewpoint of the tracklist…having only two new songs depressed me and they could’ve worked on more new songs and not just tacked on solo versions of three songs.  Now the fact that all of the songs in the era made the cut is OK…but some of them shouldn’t have been here like “Mayoi no Mori” or even “Splendid Flowers”.  I don’t know I like half the songs on the album but thought the rest was meh or just uncalled for (like the solo songs)….It’s an alright debut album…but next 5bp…..don’t do it this way!

ARTERY VEIN – Last Judgement March 5, 2012

Track Listing

1. Last Judgement
2. Mayoi no Mori
3. Last Judgement -off vocal-
4. Mayoi no Mori -off vocal-

1. Last Judgement

The duo begin their second A-side quite softly with their introduction lyrics before busting out the dark guitar riffs and swift piano playing.  I have to say that I’m loving Eri and Asami’s vocals in this song for sure.  The arrangement doesn’t fall to boring issues and the girl’s don’t really mess up in the song.  It’s probably my favorite A-side from this era!

2. Mayoi no Mori

I have to say that I did not see a 7 minute song coming after “Last Judgement” so this was pretty much something I was curious about.  Mayoi no Mori isn’t as powerful as the A-side but that’s alright because it does stand as their dark ballad.  After a while it just feels like the girls are just going through the motions of the song and I quickly lose interest.  Then again 7 minutes for a song like this is a tad bit excrutiating.

 

 

As the middle single for their self-titled debut era, Last Judgement is their best A-side for sure but that B-side of theirs kind of made me not like this as a whole.  My problem with Mayoi no Mori is that it’s just a little mundane and a bit too long for my interest.  Sad that it’s on the album though >.<

ARTERY VEIN – Pandora no Yoru August 31, 2011

Track Listing

1. Pandora no Yoru
2. Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari
3. Pandora no Yoru (off vocal)
4. Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari (off vocal)

1. Pandora no Yoru

It’s funny that when I listen to Pandora no Yoru I hear a more orchestral feel but under that feels like “Confutatis no Inori” for some reason.  Then again the better news for me was the fact that Eri and Asami sing a lot stronger and with more confidence in this song.  I love the anison feel of the song.  It’s not really dark but it works for the duo.

2. Tada Hitotsu no Monogatari

It’s nice to run into the B-side here since it’s a ballad and all of that.  Even though one of them does act as the more important member (Asami maybe?).  For me, it’s not a bad track which is good, but it doesn’t leave much of an impression besides that this duo thing is a little lobsided in the track.

 

 

ARTERY VEIN’s 3rd single does top their debut at least (still have to get through “Last Judgement” before I can say if this is or not better than their 2nd.  I liked Pandora no Yoru since it’s lighter and the vocals are way better here.  Tada Hitotsu no Monogotari was alright for a ballad but I couldn’t remember much out of it.  Let’s see if their next release will surprise me.

ARTERY VEIN – Confutatis no Inori August 22, 2011

Track Listing

1. Confutatis no Inori
2. Splendid flowers
3. Confutatis no Inori (off vocal)
4. Splendid flowers (off vocal)

1. Confutatis no Inori

Creepy beginning for a debut with the duo.  Somehow, the dark arrangement and the two ladies sound relatively good together.  I’m not sure why but the song sounds like an actual GOOD Asriel song with much better vocals which is a surprise since I didn’t expect 5pb. Records to start up a duo in goth pop.  I really enjoyed this A-side…great debut song.

2. Splendid flowers

The B-side sadly isn’t up to par with its A-side and it sounds really basic and very bland even for 5pb. to throw something like this together is not a good sign.  It’s not as dark as “Confutatis no Inori” nor the vocals were as together as well.  It just seems very plain and vanilla of a song and I know they can do SOOOOO much better.

 

 

I kind of felt that ARTERY VEIN’s debut single was pretty much good and bad.  The A-side shows a lot of hope for these two and with such a sinister and dark vibe from the song one can hope the other singles will sound similar.  However, Splendid flowers was bad and plain and just didn’t interest me in any way possible.  Here’s hoping “Last Judgement” fares better!