D – Tightrope September 22, 2009

Track Listing

1. Tightrope
2. Bloodberry
3. Lapis Lazuli ~Kimi wo Omou Hodo Boku wa Hoshi Kunaru~ (Regular edition only)
4. Shikou no Bi no Houkai (B Type only)
5. Tightrope (Voiceless)

1. Tightrope

Whoa ASAGI way to start up the song with some fast-paced lyrics.  I’m surprised by how expressive he is throughout the song and he sounds a little different than he did back on “BIRTH” but that could only just be me.  His voice does come off a bit shaky and that’s probably why I don’t enjoy it much.  There’s also a guitar solo as well and that was pretty good as well.  I think it’s great that they went Slipknot on us near the end.  Pretty neat track.

2. Bloodberry

The B-side found on all versions, Bloodberry is rather more slower than it’s A-side with ASAGI singing deeply.  Then things change when the guitarists appear and speed the song up, but it seems they are more together and ASAGI sounding like some dark prince with the way he’s singing.  Then someone pulls off getting into using their falsetto and that surprised me.  A whole lot better controlled IMO.

3. Lapis Lazuli ~Kimi wo Omou Hodo Boku wa Hoshi Kunaru~

Hey, we get a piano for our next song found only on the regular edition of the single.  It seemed it was going to be light, but then the guitarists take over and lead with a strong melody.  ASAGI is back to his normal tone that I’m used to from “BIRTH” and that made me happy.  It’s still not that bad of a song, but it does sound like a throwaway track and sounds like more or less of what they’ve released.

4. Shikou no Bi no Houkai

And then we get into their so-called epic song with Type-B’s only track.  It’s nice to have a somewhat slower track on the single because it really does sound like it has the powerful feel to it.  It’s pretty nice and gives the single a more all-around feel.  A great song for the band.

 

 

Following their major label debut album, “Genetic World”, Tightrope was quite nice for what they usually release and that’s hard hitting rock songs.  Tightrope did have ASAGI sounding strange, but I think Bloodberry and Lapis Lazuli makes up for that.  The epic Shikou no Bi no Houkai was what I really needed to maked the single stand out.  Good single.

D – BIRTH March 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. BIRTH
2. Musou Hana
3. Rebellion (Jacket B only)
4. Solid heart (Jacket C only)
5. BIRTH (Voiceless)

1. BIRTH

Ok, for a debut under the avex label, this song really represented D in a great way.  I love the strings opening and the hardass guitars that filled out the song.  Obviously ASAGI sounds a lot better than in the indies days because he’s not exactly doing the freaky growl thing.  The guitar solo was one of Ruiza’s best.  Definitly the song to kick start the era.

2. Musou Hana

Musou Hana though was basically almost as rock hard as “BIRTH” but some parts are pretty sweet like ASAGI’s talking parts during the crazy band parts.  Sometimes the band gets a little too flustered and things get drowned out.  It’s definitly a hard track, I’ll give it that.

3. Rebellion

Rebellion only appears on the Jacket B version.  I think Rebellion continues this crazy sound and drives it even further with this arrangement.  Oddly enough, I really enjoyed this song a lot because it’s maniacal but played it off well with ASAGI’s interesting vocals.  The chanting though to me sounds like gibberish, it might actually be, but I like it.  Even Ruiza’s solo was awesome.  Good song.

4. Solid heart

However, on the Jacket C version of the single, we get Solid heart and what a track it is.  It does sound a bit more tame (in v-kei words).  It’s still fierce and has the growly chants.  ASAGI’s vocals is strange because he’s like holding it and dropping tone, even the chorus has it still.  It shows he’s got some interesting properties and honestly it’s one of the bands coolest tracks.  Love it!

 

 

D’s debut under avex (as odd as that sounds) was pretty cool.  I really love BIRTH.  The strings and hard sound was just so epic and amazing.  Rebellion and Musou Hana were pretty good, but if I don’t listen to them enough, I’ll forget them pretty fast.  Solid heart though was good though.  Another awesome track from the group.