RENTRER EN SOI - RENTRER EN SOI

We all know that VK bands like to mix it up when it comes to styles and RENTRER EN SOI has never been an exception. While most of their material has leaned heavily on the melodic/atmospheric side of things, they've always had a couple of songs in their repertoire that got your blood boiling and your head banging. These songs have aggressive guitars and growling vocals, reminiscent of early Dir en grey or D'espairsRay. However, their first album, Sphire-Croid, featured none of these and fan response was still overwhelmingly good.

That's why it came as a surprise that this album is a lot more aggressive than its predecessor. Perhaps to offer rock fans something with more guts? Sure, the relaxed, melodic sound is still found here and there, but it took a backseat this time as the boys have fused it with cranked up guitars and growling vocals in certain cases. For example, tracks like Bunretsu LE + DD Jinkaku, Dead Believe Me, Strawberry Oblaat and Seishin Shi 13 Dome belt out aggressiveness like there's no tomorrow. Although, the last two do mix in some clean vocals as well, so in a way you still get Satsuki's charm while listening to him vent his frustrations. These songs might turn certain fans away and I was one of them at first. Hearing RENTRER EN SOI perform aggressive songs has never appealed to me seeing as I know they are capable of other things, Sphire-Croid's material for example. If I need growls, I'll go listen to bands like Dir en grey. I will admit, though, that after a couple of listens the songs did grow on me. Perhaps it was their choruses or their over-the-top guitars; I still can't really tell.

Fans of Satsuki's clean vocals will appreciate the other songs on the album, which thankfully make up the bulk of it. Tracks such as Gi Hadaka Nise Hadaka and Misemono Koya will offer a few surprises though, seeing as they do feature crazy guitar riffs and pounding drums but still retain Satsuki's clean vocals. These are tracks most fans will appreciate. For the purists, though, the "calmer", more "serene" music can still be found on other tracks such as Protoplasm, Jude and the amazing Binetsu shita de shajitsu shita shinsou ha atesaki fumei no tegami to naru, with its perfect blend of acoustic and electric guitars.

Of special interest is Gedoku Magaini Suicide, a track that truly shows a new side of the band. It's pure blues-rock, something usually performed by Merry or a few other bands. To hear RENTRER EN SOI perform this kind of music comes as a surprise, but you can't help but fall in love with it. What they've composed works extremely well with their standard guitar effects and makes you beg for similar songs on future efforts.

The only other comment I have is that the album does come out a bit on the short side, clocking in at a measly 43 minutes. Most tracks barely cover 4 minutes, something that I'm certain they could've surpassed if they had wanted to. Just look at the last song, almost hitting 6 minutes. It's an amazing piece of work that I would label my favorite song on the album if it wasn't for Gedoku Magaini Suicide. It just goes to show you that the short, catchy rockers sometimes can't compete with an epic song that truly hits your soft spot.

Overall, though, I think this album presents a new side of the band that helps to appeal to a wider spectrum of audiences. Mixed styles and varied vocal patterns are something that will help push the album in more directions. Sure, a part of me thinks that they should've kept all the songs on the calm, melodic side of things seeing as that's what most of their material consists of but hey, they do have a different side to their personality and it's only right that it's given a chance to come out and play.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10 for strong compositions that don't come out as "filler" and the fact that the album is extremely varied in the styles it has to offer. There's something for everyone.