Those praying for fresh and catchy rock tunes have had their prayers answered.
Released back in June of this year, PRAY TO THE FUTURE is rock band ACID's fourth album of their young career. With members ranging in age, experience, and musical tastes, the band has come together to bring listeners an offering that most any fan of rock should enjoy.
After roughly ten seconds of tense silence, the guitars break in, heralding the start of the first track, Pray for the future (Instrumental). Winding and twisting, the song takes the listener on a short journey of madness before plunging them into the second track, Existance proof. With dueling guitar lines and vocals that alternate between whispers, shouts, and proper singing, its the perfect track to settle between Pray for the future (Instrumental) and the third track, 0:0 A.M.. Recently featured in the anime 'Tokyo Majin Gakuen~Kenpu-cho', 0:0 A.M. opens with a slightly dreamlike quality which is almost immediately broken by Junpei's shouts and the battle between dream and reality rages on throughout the song, capturing the imagination of the listener.
The fourth track, Prayer, is one well-suited to its title; with light-handed guitar melodies and an upbeat, catchy rhythm, this song carries with it a bright, hopeful feeling. Despite this, ACID's roots still show through intermittently with heavier guitar lines courtesy of Masamitsu and Daisuke though it never overwhelms the song's mood, simply keeping it grounded from drifting too far off into light-rock or pop-rock territory. Life doesn't stray far from Prayer in terms of song genre though Junpei's vocals get another chance to shine as his words soar over the instruments. In both tunes, the lighter guitar work allows the listener to more fully appreciate Yuta's bass line, initially a bit lost in the first tracks.
The catchy Under the Shadows and the much harder rock Sweet shine follow, the latter featuring plenty of low growls and aggressive guitar. SEED is a different sort of song, returning to the sound established by Prayer. Junpei's vocals weaken slightly when he reaches for the higher notes but his voice is well-suited to the chorus soaring over the crashing cymbal work and drifting guitar chords. Meanwhile, Sorrow in the box alternates between aggressive guitar work and catchy melody, tossing in a bit of English as well.
The album closes out with the pretty Hanafubuki, Junpei's softer vocals giving it a much needed emotional touch, and finally Darling. Driven along by Sei-ichiro's drumming and the sort of chorus one could easily sing along to, it's a fine track to end the album with.
ACID's brand of rock is slightly softer, catchier than that often sported by more visual, more internationally well-known acts. This does not mean, however, that PRAY TO THE FUTURE lacks any grit or soul, and listeners tired of the shrieking and growling so often employed by these other bands should definitely give this album a listen; it will not disappoint.
