author: polina

If you have ever asked the question, "What is Nagoya kei?" GULLET's maxi-single mad bless you would be a perfect sample, representing the whole range of the traditional sound of the genre.

The opening song, Alice, starts with dissonant and chaotic guitar sounds, becoming only a bit more harmonized with the entrance of Ryo’s strong, melodious vocals. Throughout the whole song, dark, dissonant sounds contrast and intertwine with softer, more stable melodies. At times harsh and loud, it suddenly fades out into gentle, ballad-like passages. This is mostly noticeable in the guitars, but also with the vocals, which are at times intense and harsh, then suddenly becoming hushed and soft. The lyrics correspond to the sound, speaking of disturbed, violent and grotesque murder, but at the same time tender love and care. The sudden major and minor key changes, the contrasts in both sound and lyrics create an unreal atmosphere of uncertainty, which only gives place to more stability as the song ends with a soft epilogue.

Instance has a very different sound. It is a more intense, upbeat song with energetic and stable drumming. It also starts with a slightly chaotic and heavy sound, then changes into a major key and becomes more melodic, while not losing the heaviness. At some times during the first verse, heavy sound effects are used on the vocals, making it sound more distant and distorted, but later on Ryo is able to demonstrate the power of his beautiful vocals without any obstacles.

The third song stands out from most of the works of the band. A creation of the bassist Yukino, Deracine is somewhat of a ballad, written almost exclusively in major key. Yet at the same time, it doesn't sound too positive and still transmits the feelings of fragile sadness, which are highlighted in the lyrics. It is the most harmonious and melodic song of the release, and Ryo’s voice is beautifully soft and full of gentleness and emotion, sometimes with a surprising, but pleasantly high pitch. Deracine must be one of the most touching songs ever written by the band.

There is a change in pace for the next song, Hakuri, which is the slowest and most laid back song of the release. It starts with a noticeable bass line and soft vocals, which later become slightly more forceful, and throughout the whole song the voice continues to vary between being intense and quite harsh to almost whispering. The guitar sounds are very clear, and in the middle the song features an impressive, lengthy guitar solo. Hakuri may not stand out much in the release, but it can be considered a solid Nagoya kei work of art.

One might argue that mad bless you somewhat lacks consistancy as a whole, since all the songs have quite different styles, but it is a good demonstration of the skills of each member and the talent of the band as a whole. Each song taken individually is a great piece of art, able to transmit a whole range of strong emotions.