Angelo Live at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall

One by one Angelo's members took their positions as an electronic intro blasted in the background to flashing lights. The stage caused quite an impact, ruined gray walls adorning the back while in the center oddly placed TV screens cascaded down a metal spiral, smoke adding an apocalyptical tinge to the setting. LOVE STORY kicked off the show, enveloping the hall with its catchy tune. Kirito took control of the crowd with mastery, moving arms slowly to the beat like a puppet or rather, a puppet master.

Strong drums opened FEATHER and brought in the pumping fists and strident shouts of “Oi!” On the screens black feathers floated over white backgrounds as the sweet, determined ballad took fans on a smooth ride. The guitarists showed unflagging energy from the start, moving to the beat and taking the lead for My Strife, a song that opened to skillful guitars before red lights welcomed the long awaited headbanging. As if to materialize the fast paced song, jets rocked the screens as they ripped through the sky. Considering the stage and the ruined city it resembled, it could be war imagery with TAKEO’s thunderous drums pulsing in the back. Like an indomitable army, the crowd joined voices, pumping fists to the tune.

THE TOWER OF BABEL brought with it a series of well integrated Arabic influences. The elaborate stage, lighting and Kirito’s slow hand movements—as he held his hands in front of his face in a prayer, elbows to the sides, moving the arms right and left – made for quite an impact. As the song approached the end, it was the bass’s time to speak in a slow warm lament, the fast lulling tune causing the crowd to swing. Giru opened the determined, sad ballad Kirisamehoho wo nurashite, during which Kirito showed, not only great voice control, but also stage presence, adding intensity to the piece with both his voice and movements. To dim blue lights fans sailed the night, the song starting slowly but gradually speeding up. A haunting solo brought Karyu to the forefront as the guitar was chased by the steady drums.

An actual explosion opened the next number, effectively adding the “EX” to PLOSIVE. The funky and catchy beat got Kirito dancing to fiery guitars and bass, fire coming to life on the screens. The ground shook under the crowd’s vigorous jumps, the string trio moving to the front with Karyu twirling around energetically as he thrashed his hair in the process. White fury was appropriately accompanied by blinding white lights and white smoke. KOHTA and Karyu engaged in some fan-service as they played together, but it was Kirito with his sensuous dancing who won the song over. The strong ballad DECESE was worth a note with its well-accomplished instrumental pieces to a melancholic piano. Gospel brought back the heavy numbers. From a nice intro to shouts of “Oi!” the song neurotically went up and down through heavy head banging that got Kirito thrashing his head to the beat. More than a gospel, it felt more like a determined, strong, wish that went through the slowness of dreams and the chaos of doubts.

“Hi! Thank you! Now, I want everyone to yell for Giru!” Kirito asked with a smile. To the crowd’s cries said guitarist made the honors and drove fans right into Manic Stage High Pressure. Pumping fists opened the song while clouds took over the screens. Like the lyrics suggested, fans rode the wind for an early morning sky ride to a sweet and hopeful tune. More dancing and sweet guitar and bass solos accompanied Ruins before all hell broke loose with Blind Light. The number started with hair flying and soon pumping fists followed to a mantra of shouts. To smooth bass lines the song softened, only to become even more aggressive. With unfailing showmanship Kirito half sang, half spat out the lyrics as he moved to the tune, making full use of the stage.

“This is our first tour with these five members. Despite the tough schedule we made a new single—Calvary. You all have it right?” Kirito asked. After the crowd’s collective “Yes!” the vocalist added with a teasing grin, “Well, you have to buy 800,000 copies each!” The MC turned more solemn and Kirito confessed, “We want to make a new and better world and made this song with that in mind!”

The title song for the band’s new single Calvary was warmly welcomed and ignited the fuse with Kirito’s powerful growls. Red lights combined with the ruined walls and metal structures to create the perfect atmosphere. Chaos of sounds and colors materialized to distorted guitars while Kirito held the microphone stand, thrashing his head wildly to the tune and growled lines. But the chaos soon became warm and hopeful, as if hope would be reborn from the ashes of destruction. To blue lights and a faithful piano the bass and guitars sped off while crucifixes and images of Christ filled the screens. As the song approached the end Kirito took the central platform, arms stretched horizontally as if he himself was hanging from the cross in a dramatic finale.

“OK, the next one will make your neck hurt! Are you ready?” Kirito warned as they dove into another new song, Forbidden fruit. The song drove the audience into a frenzy, hair flying as black smoke traveled across the screens. After some loud growling the song slowed down for a hot bass solo. On the screens images of flowers blooming were replaced by white clouds, an apple making its way from between them and transforming white into black on its path. Like the imagery on the screen the song also transmitted this idea, soft and heavy mixing skillfully under the theme of the original sin.

“You don’t have to yell for me, yell for the young ones, they need it more!” Kirito explained to the euphoric crowd, referring to the young guitarists before asking the audience to shush as he whispered the opening lines of Holocaust. The stage was tainted in hot colors for the fiery tune, the string trio yelling out the chorus energetically. Giru took the song home with a vibrant solo and Angelo made their way to REBORN. KOHTA did the honors for this one with a smooth solo. Smoke crept on stage from above, giving it a hell-like appearance. The song moved from refreshing and powerful growls to lukewarm moments that were well accomplished, yet breaking the fire attained during the heavier bit. Overall it was still a very strong performance that got the crowd on fire and singing the last verses in unison.

MULTI PERSONALITY closed the set in full force. Head banging and chants of “Oi!” guided the pumping fists while the crowd pulsed in ecstasy. A loud laugh shook the walls as Kirito petted KOHTA teasingly before going back to business as he moved around the stage, demanding more from the crowd. Between cheers Angelo made their exit, returning soon after upon an enthusiastic encore demand. Wasting no time the five men dove into Hikari no kioku. Dim blue and white lights embraced the venue as Kirito’s warm voice took over the hall. Tenderly, the song built up and the rhythm section made its way through the drums and vocals as, like the morning sun, yellow light grew stronger. WINTER MOON started with a shower of silver stripes that descended from the ceiling to the crowd. The song testified the connection between the band and the fans as the hall joined voices for the chorus in a visually beautiful moment.

With Kirito eternally teasing KOHTA, it was time for each member to address the crowd. TAKEO, who had been pounding the drums hard throughout the show, was the first. “I am the trouble maker!” he introduced himself with confidence. KOHTA followed and he assured the crowd he was having a blast and thanked everyone for their support before apologizing for the serious MC. “I’m usually nervous talking during MCs because I never know what’s coming,” Giru confessed as he suspiciously glanced at Kirito. Between laughs it reached Karyu’s turn and as a warning the front man confessed, “I sometimes spend time with his former band and they always ask me ‘Is Karyu OK during MCs?’” Between laughs and testifying that MCs were not his thing, the guitarist addressed the crowd tentatively, “Since it’s the final I want to take great memories home. I love you… no matter what you think of me!” He added the last sentence with a grin that caused the hall to burst out in laughter. “If you want information on tour dates, check the web!” Kirito let out with a teasing smile before confessing he was quite sad with the end of the tour.

MICRO WAVE SLIDER and SCRAP closed the set. Smoke and an impressive light show made for a powerful combination while guitarists, drummer and bassist gave all they had for the final miles. The last song was electrifying and brought the hall together for the choreographies. Kirito’s dances and growling were ardent, the smoke on stage testifying just that. TAKEO took the song home, vigorously pounding the drums as he moved his head to the beat.

“I think we became one with this tour. Let’s grow together! The next time we meet will be… tomorrow!” Kirito continued after an amusing awkward silence that ended in giggles from the crowd. “Please come to Hong Kong and Taiwan too! Karyu and Giru are awesome guitarists, despite being a bit shy!” he added with a smile, Giru flashing his fingers up in the peace sign at the last comment. Between thrown water bottles, waves, shouts, Giru’s flying shirt—which left him half naked on stage—and Karyu’s pick reaching all the way to the second floor, the band bade their farewells with the promise of many more hot shows to come.

Set List:

01. LOVE STORY
02. FEATHER
03. My Strife
04. THE TOWER OF BABEL
05. Kirisamehoho wo nurashite
06. PLOSIVE
07. White fury
08. DECESE
09. Gospel
10. Manic Stage High Pressure
11. Ruins
12. Blind Light
13. Calvary (new song)
14. Forbidden fruit (new song)
15. Holocaust
16. REBORN
17. MULTI PERSONALITY

EN1 Hikari no kioku
EN2 WINTER MOON
EN3 MICRO WAVE SLIDER
EN4 SCRAP