Calmando Qual - Yami o Tsuranuku Gekijou no Kagayaki

Calmando Qual’s new maxi-single, Yami o Tsuranuku Gekijou no Kagayaki, which went on sale January 30th, 2013, defies and readily dismisses genre labels. The included four tracks explore new themes, like experimental and new age, while packaged in a specifically-themed concept, designed to explore the “five senses and [help to] bring the sixth to life”.

“Dark” is one word that best describes Yami o Tsuranuku Gekijou no Kagayaki, but this one word doesn’t do the maxi-single justice. In just the opening of the title track, the listener can empathize with Hibiki, almost tasting his anguish and malice behind his singing. When the chorus hits, the song turns to a different direction than in the verses. Still, it’s breathtaking. Of course, the track is perfect for head banging—every band fan’s dream.

The opening seconds of CRUSH are crucial and set the tone for the rest of the track. Short bursts of sound shift from ear to ear and your back arches, tingling as if something is creeping up behind you, breathing down your neck. This drifts into the first verse, which morphs into a 80s glam rock number. Hibiki half growls, and gruffly sings during most of CRUSH. Also, the warped bass before the instrumental section and guitar solo catches the listener off guard.

The drums remain as the only sound at the end of CRUSH, but in Monochrome, it’s the first sound heard. Calmando Qual live up to the maxi-single’s overall concept and help to “sharpen [the] senses” by skillfully playing with sound to their advantage. Hibiki’s voice wavers a bit, but the periodically warped guitar and bass lines are piercingly sharp.

Unexpectedly, deep sea is what helps this release relate back to the concept of this release, by “appeal[ing] to the trembling emotions in the space between negative and positive….” The short instrumental piece submerges the listener in gradual layered sound, as if they were in a submarine, or deep-sea diving. deep sea is borderline experimental and new age, while calming bringing the release to an end.

Yami o Tsuranuku Gekijou no Kagayaki is only limited to 1000 copies but can be purchased through the Darkest Labryrinth webstore.

The accompanying PV for Yami o Tsuranuku Gekijou no Kagayaki certainly matches with the song by focusing on visuals—in similar shades of navy blue, grungy browns, black and off-white—to help add to the original intensity of track. Enjoy!!