deadman's unanticipated farewell.
In the direction of sunrise and night light is deadman's second, and unfortunately final, full-length album. A mix of the band’s trademark gloom, hard-hitting sounds, and melancholy melodies, this CD definitely shines.
The album opens with the quick-paced star baby, a short track that sets the stage for what’s to come. Preparing the listener, it leaves one curious and anticipating. Rip roll soil, with its steady drumbeats and driving guitar, is a real stand-out track. Kazuya's subtle bass lines flow nicely through the track and Mako's vocals are perfection, displaying his usual strengths with an insane laugh tossed in here and there.
Following that is raison d'etre, another song driven by drums but with a stronger bass sound and softer vocals. It doesn't leave the kind of impression on the listener that its predecessor does, but aie's short guitar solo at the end is a nice surprise. A re-recording of when the saints go marching in [seijya no koushin] is next up and does not disappoint. Carried by Mako's powerful vocals and showcasing Kazuya's bass style, it’s a new taste of a previously recorded favorite.
Asthenia bullet stain, a gloomy tune with a haunting melody, is a chance for the listener to hear just what Mako can do with his voice with highs, lows, and melancholy cries throughout. Toki's drumming is steady and rhythmic, setting a perfect pace for, what sounds like, the saddest of love songs. Beautiful guitar and bass work balance this song; a masterful mix of instruments and vocals.
A mournful guitar riff takes the listener into additional cause for sorrow, a beautifully melancholy tune. Mako's emotional vocals pair wonderfully with the guitar breaks throughout, slowly thumping drums, and again subtle bass lines. The vocals are the shining force of this song, sorrowful and crying out. The opening guitar of follow the night light sets the pace for the entire song, which is a catchy number with an impressive bass line and delightful vocals. The chorus is particularly enjoyable after the quick, almost whispered verses. aie's guitar solo is short but effective and is a refreshing break in this piece, one of the stars of this release.
Next up is fragile sandy, a quiet, versed track with steady guitar work backing up Mako's multifaceted vocals. The strength of this song lies not in the verses, but in the chorus and bridges. A masterful instrumental break balances the start and end of the song and carries the listener through to the end. While not the best track on this release, it is in no way out of place. Sandwiched between follow the night light and dim quiet, it doesn’t stand out as much as it possibly could, but remains a solid track. Dim quiet is a bit of a surprise. The deep opening bass line and tapping drumbeats give way to heavier guitar riffs that drop out to make way for Mako's whispering vocals. The whispering grows from that to growling yells, a series of ups and downs. Though not showcasing Mako's true vocal skill, his voice carries this sort of rough yelling off rather well. While it may be a bit overwhelming to some, this song is a different approach to deadman's usual style of gloom and doom and a fine example of their versatility.
Underlying bass and quick, catchy guitar riffs kick off grand ground. With, once again, quiet and seductively sung verses, the drums really drive this song. Both Kazuya and aie get chances to demonstrate their skills in short instrumental breaks between Mako's hushed yet forceful vocals. The bridge is catchy, with the vocals more upbeat and backed by nice drumbeats before switching back to the original melody and fading out with Mako's trademark laughter.
Another re-recording, this day. this rain, is laden with gloomy bass, haunting cries and whispers, and steady drumbeats. While always skillful, aie's guitar work is a bit lost until the end when the screeching yelps mix in with Mako's heartbreaking calls, giving way to a fantastic and quick-paced closing solo paired with amazing drum work. It's definitely an appropriate ending to the album.
This release also contains a DVD with the PV for follow the night light. Following Mako as he is tormented by his evil doppelganger, the video is crisp, clean and simple with bright white lighting and no complicated effects to distract the viewer. It is true to what deadman is.
In the direction of sunrise and night light is one of those albums that can easily be counted as a favorite. It is a solid release that wonderfully displays the skills that each band member possesses. Mako's voice is beautifully haunting and mournful, powerfully blending with sometimes subtle bass lines, masterful guitar work, and heart-pounding drumbeats. Being the final CD from such a talented band, it is a fond farewell to those who, at the time of its release, had no idea that it was in fact goodbye.
