Track Listing
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Re:Set
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Junjou Spectra
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MONSTER
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Genai no Mobius
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GATEWAY LOVE
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Occultics no Majou (Zwei Ver.)
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Mephistopheles no Mokushi
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Kaze no Senritsu
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Ano Natsu no Hi no Omoide
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Sora no Shizuku
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Innana no Mita Yume
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Kakuchou Place
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Koyubi no Paradox
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Forever More
1. Re:Set
It’s great that the duo would kick their album with the main promotional track Re:Set. After an era of this new-branded Zwei, I was wondering how this song would be and of course Ayumu is impressing with her vocals. I really enjoy the power she brings in rock songs and it’s a definite strong suit to kick this album off. Overall pretty awesome song!
2. Junjou Spectra
Of course, looking at the tracklist it’s chockfull of old songs. Starting with the 5th A-side released, Junjou Spectra starts off edgy with some great lines from the guitarist and Megu before Ayumu enters and that disappates with your normal 5bp. sound. After the previous track, it does feel like Ayumu is holding back some powerful vocals. Though it’s still remains my favorite A-side which says a lot for the rest of the songs. It’s a solid song and definitely nice that it came after “Re:Set”.
3. MONSTER
Sadly, all of the B-sides made the cut too. Starting with the one from “Kakuchou Place” MONSTER was one of the better ones to come out and surprised that it wasn’t a leading track because it was much more aggressive and Ayumu’s performance struck me a lot more than expected. I just enjoy the sass and Megu also had some cool parts. I’d say it’s even better than “Junjou Spectra”!
4. Genai no Mobius
Even though there’s only 3 new songs on the album, I was having hopes that they’d all turn out well. Well, we’re two for two since this song took their anison style and adds the right amount of style and punch! Ayumu really reminds me of Nami back in her good ole days so this was rather a cool treat. Genai no Mobius is another win on this album!!!
5. GATEWAY LOVE
I still love the opening line from GATEWAY LOVE (B-side of “Innana no Mita Yume”). Being a more synth-driven track, Megu still had a nice enough presence in the track which didn’t feel member-heavy. It’s not all that hard-hitting but there’s something cool here that reminds me of when they debuted. Interesting song overall!
6. Occultics no Majou (Zwei Ver.)
If you didn’t realize, Occultics no Majou was the only release Ayumu had by herself (before Zwei returned from hiatus). Strange when the biggest difference in the song is added bass (because Megu is the bassist and all). Beyond that it’s the same track otherwise. Ayumu still sounds so good here and she has such a cool voice for songs like this (even if it screams anison). I was happy that they decided to include this song because it’s a gem (and the fact Megu was added was smart!).
7. Mephistopheles no Mokushi
I never reviewed this initially because it was on a triple split single that included tracks from Rekka Katakiri and Ayane. I wondered what this track sounded like and it’s a HEAVY rock track. Actually it might be a little too frantic and loud even for me. I mean whoever is drumming is just on speed as he’s just roaming all over the place. I don’t know this song just sounded wrong…way too much going on (honestly, get the dude something to chill him out). Add on that Ayumu didn’t sound very good…actually she was just in one tone throughout…Ugh, meh song.
8. Kaze no Senritsu
At least we get into the duo’s 2nd single in the era and honestly after the mess that was the previous tune, I was more than happy to come to this track. I still LOVE the intro for this song and hearing the strings were quite unique to them (well “Dragon” says otherwise XD). Ayumu was pushing her vocals a bit through the chorus, but she gave the tune life!
9. Ano Natsu no Hi no Omoide
The last new track on the album, Ano Natsu no Hi no Omoide is actually the album’s ballad track and I wasn’t sure how’d it turn out since this has been a strict ani-rock album. I was surprised that Ayumu had layered vocals and she kind of sounded digitized in places >.<. It’s an odd song and kind of sticks out in the wrong way. I wish the layering was left off at least. It’s OK but nothing special.
10. Sora no Shizuku
Then we get a string of old songs to close the album out. As the B-side from “Kaze no Senritsu”, Sora no Shizuku actually impressed me as well. It didn’t sound as formuaic like its A-side was which was a safe bet that I was gonna love it. It’s a more darker-tinged song and it surprised me that the duo was able to pull it off. It was a surprise the and it’s still is on the album…woke me up after the previous track too hahah. Great B-side!
11. Innana no Mita Yume
I kind of thought oddly of Zwei’s 3rd A-side for sure. I did like the chorale opening for sure, but I had felt like the song was catered to more synth usage which kind of killed Megu’s use there for a bit. Though returning to it, it’s still evident that guitars and bass were the last thing to be brought in as they don’t add much except in the solo. Vocally, it’s pretty impressive and once again the chorale is just a cool addition but it doesn’t sound like a song Zwei would release.
12. Kakuchou Place
If there was a song that just screamed anison and generic then this would be the song for sure. There’s really nothing that really makes it stand out amongst the other A-sides and while Ayumu’s filtered voice is cool, it’s not really enough to make this one pop out. I just felt that this was kind of just forgetful.
13. Koyubi no Paradox
We move back to when Zwei actually joing 5pb. Records and releasd their first single under the label, Koyubi no Paradox and like “Kakuchou Place” it screamed generic and just did NOTHING for me. Honestly, I wonder why they’d place these songs one of the other because it was just bad bad bad. However, this one is rather worse because they tried to make Ayumu sing a happy song and that’s not her. This just didn’t work.
14. Forever More
Weird that they end off the album with the B-side of the previous track. It started out sad and lonesome before the guitars/Megu come in and make it a quicker song. It does suffer slightly from the genericness, but they also had some interesting lines and Ayumu sounded great. Still not the most amazing song on the album.
Tracks Recommended
Song of Avoidance
Wow, it took them almost 8 years to just get their 3rd album out! It’s a weird album to review for them because they changed labels twice. First UNI-J (but released two singles, nothing else) and then to 5pb. Records and well you see what we have. Also, due to being under a anison label, their sound also has changed so fans might be whiplashed coming into this album thinking it’d be like “Z”. Re:Set is overall a good album, but due to 5pb. there’s some mad generic songs and the Song of Avoidance is just crap. Still there’s some great tracks to be had…one can wonder what’s next for them.
Kurayami Monogatari 