Their 4th Japanese single gives hope to worried fans.
While South Korea continues to be bombarded by boy-bands and other pop artists, it's nice to know that certain people are taking steps to inject some rock into the country's veins. TRAX jumped into the scene in early 2004 with the help of Japanese superstar Yoshiki and unleashed their tunes across his homeland and their own.
After parting with their drummer and taking a break for a year, Typhoon, Xmas and Attack returned with their 4th Japanese single. After their disappointing-yet-solid First Rain album (showcasing few rock songs and many ballads), many wondered what direction the band would follow with Resolution. To everyone's surprise, the hard rock has once again taken a back seat, but has been replaced by something that retains the band's rock spirit. Does this mean the single fails?
Definately not!
Upon their first listen, most people will realize that the boys expanded their horizons for this release, retaining the elements that made TRAX so popular with fans in 2004 and introducing fresh ones to hook in new listeners. While Typhoon's melodious voice is still present and felt throughout the release, Xmas's crunchy axe-wielding doesn't make an appearance until after Resolution, which sees him replacing his distorted power chords with harmonics and fast picking. Think of Eddie Van Halen's later work and you'll get an idea. Anyways, the song rocks and even the most adamant hard rock fanatic will admit it. Sure, there are tons of "sissy" keyboards throughout the track, but they create the perfect acompaniment and that can't be ignored, no matter how "bad" you are.
Criminal Scream offers a slight throwback to the band's roots during the verses with a cool distorted six-string. Sure, you'll quickly notice the keyboards and pop-friendly riff as they take your ears over shortly before the chorus, but you'll be too busy singing along to even wonder why the band sounds the way it does. This is, without a doubt, pop/rock at its finest, containing elements for all kinds of audiences. The only thing that bugs me about this tune is that I cant decide which part I like best: the "I GOTTA SCREA-EA-EA-EA-M" pre-chorus bridge or the chorus itself. Ah well, suffice to say: this one's a treat for your eardrums and is reason alone to purchase this single.
Everyone had their hopes high for over a year waiting for this release and now that it's here, the band's new sound gives them an edge that will definitely garner some extra attention from the few people who hadn't given it to them in the first place. The whole ensemble conveys feelings of innocence and freedom, which always works in the world of J-pop. Oh, make sure you watch out for those choruses: they're made of the same stuff that anime intros are made of. If you're not careful, you'll have them stuck in your head for hours after they're done.
