D'espairsRay - KAMIKAZE

The problem with writing a review of D’espairsRay’s music is that it absorbs one so completely; coming up with the correct words to describe such a thing is nearly impossible. They are a band that continually grabs the senses with a gentle force and carries listeners straight into oblivion. KAMIKAZE is certainly no exception. This single picks up right where the velocity of Brilliant left off and pushes a little harder toward the edge.

KAMIKAZE starts off with a resounding introduction, followed by an arrangement of sound that not so gently takes a listener into a place far from where they are. A somewhat higher pitched guitar, heeled by the rest of the composition, almost sings its own song in this track. Bass and drums remain elusive in the background at the beginning, but go on to form the pulse and build the bridges higher and more powerfully. An instrumental solo during the climax highlights this track and is punctuated ever so slightly by a brilliant guitar hook from Karyu. While Hizumi’s echoing verses and Karyu’s sleek guitar play are the most prevalent on this track, the rhythmic pulse created by Zero and Tsukasa give this song its own distinctive heartbeat. And while it may be subtle, it is definitely worth noticing. KAMIKAZE is understated rock ’n roll beauty, a feeling of falling and flying at the same time, and the calm before the storm of Scissors.

The second track is one of the rare songs composed by Tsukasa, which have ranged from hardcore to poetic, and Scissors lies indescribably between. This song's combination of rock and digital sounds follows the lead set by the first track, but brings it to a more tempestuous edge. Heavy guitar distortion and an underlying electronic flow make up the musical bulk of this song and provide the perfect vehicle for Hizumi’s unnerving vocals. Those of you who have been missing his rougher vocal style will find some solace in the screaming of Scissors' lyrics, which have the feel of a streamlined nightmare. While not as musically complex as KAMIKAZE, Scissors carries its own intensity as a frightening and heartbreaking composition.

There is only one bad thing about this single, and that is that it can never be loud enough. But any way you look at it, good music is good music, and that is something D’espairsRay will never fail to dish out.

KAMIKAZE was released in a regular and limited edition. The regular edition featured a bonus audio recording of Brilliant from a live show performed on December 30, 2007. The limited edition came with an extra DVD, which featured live footage of five of the songs performed on the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour in the Long Beach Arena earlier in 2008. Both extras are fantastic as D’espairsRay is known for being a stellar live band, and both features emphasize that point.