Zoro - NISHIKI

On May 27, Zoro released their first DVD entitled NISHIKI, which includes three new songs and their PVs. The members wear outfits they designed themselves. Forgoing the typical road of progression, the band has released three songs that to date can only be heard through watching their music videos, thereby making it impossible to divorce the music from its images.

The first song is DYNAMITE FLAVOR, created by bassist Tatsuhi, and it lives up to its name. This explosively energetic track may be one of the most successful and distinctive the band has produced so far. Featuring an overwhelming digital element and electronic vocals, DYNAMITE FLAVOR includes a synthesizer bass played on a keyboard, a first for Tatsuhi. Yuuya’s dance club-like rhythm will pulse along in your blood, and Taizo’s guitar lines lend the song a rock edge. The message in the lyrics according to Ryuuji is essentially, “Please listen to this song for the effect that it produces.” Accordingly, the words draw attention to the music through phrases like “rich SOUND music,” “Sparkling music,” “Dependence sound” and so on.

The sparkling red and blue patches on Tatsuhi’s shirt echo the song’s bright, electric feel. Feeling a suit would not fit the song, drummer Yuuya strayed from his usual style in favor of what he calls a “sporty big brother” look, a casual outfit with a sports jacket. The video matches the energy and glitter of the music with a nimiety of computer graphics and effects. The colors in the costumes and backgrounds become a sensory overload, immersing the viewer in a video game world.

Track two is Latency snow, a song composed by Taizo, and it accordingly sports intriguing guitar parts in the intro and conclusion. A little unusual for the visual scene, the first verse has a jazzy feel, but the chorus is classic Zoro. Driven and inspiring, it’s packed with string synths, frolicking bass and glinting guitar. Ryuuji noted that while the lyrics initially appear to indicate a love song between two individuals, they are actually directed at the group’s beloved fans. Going with their initial idea for the PV when listening to the demo, the final video has the camera circling the band from various positions.

The third song, timeland, was composed by Yuuya. One day while eating lunch with his bandmates and thinking about his past, he realized, “I’ve really found some people who’ve helped me.” This song became a present to those people, created to convey his feelings of gratitude to them. Upbeat and fun, the track is also laced with an air of rebellion and angst and features a violent guitar solo from Taizo. Ryuuji sang it with a childish air in accordance with Yuuya’s directions. His lyrics, “I want to live freely,” convey the desire of so many to escape rules and live as they choose. This message is reflected in the melody of the chorus, which are both wistful and assertive. A fun and beautiful song, it also transmits a very honest desire to be selfish and impulsive like a kid.

The PV offers various images of rebellion, opening and closing with shots of Ryuuji smashing a guitar into a glass wall. He appears in a reckless ensemble with no sense of order, topped off with a pair of thick glasses. Taizo impulsively had a stripe jacket designed and wore it to reflect the lyrics “I want to live freely.” As the members are shown jumping in slow motion or throwing things at the camera, their slightly chaotic outfits illustrate a childlike spirit of willfulness.

The limited edition of the release also contains making-of footage for the PVs, where you can see the members goofing off and talking to the camera.

The theme for Zoro lately seems to be individuality. In their two-day live at Takadanobaba (June 21 and 22), each of the members had a chance to express Zoro their own way. Each had his own stage, chose the set list and clothes, and acted as leader. This individual expression is the spirit of NISHIKI, which demonstrates not only Zoro’s uniqueness as a group, but also the singular volition of each member through compositions, video direction, and costume design. Though still a young band, Zoro further refines their craft with each song, and NISHIKI is another release that won’t disappoint.