The Album Club: "Vitium" by Sukekiyo

Neapolitan · 06-13-2018, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

I just meant his voice. At first, I thought they'd pitched him upwards with a computer effect or something.

My guess was the singer for Aicle pitched his voice higher or sang in falsetto for the main vocal track when he wanted to stress certain syllables/words while he sang normal on the backing track. I guess the combination of the two gave it a computer effect.

~~MicShazam~~ · 06-14-2018, 11:46 PM

88Kasyo Junrei are cool as ****. Just saying. I've been looking for their CD's for over a year, but they're hard to come by to say the least. They haven't really gone international yet.

~~MicShazam~~ · 06-16-2018, 09:58 AM

I like everything about this album. Despite how I don't think they've made a truly classic album yet, this is still a top scorer for me. I really like the layered, textured sound and the kinetic/melodic songwriting. The singer is excellent and more than a little varied in his approach. I really like the musicianship on the album, despite how the mix arguably gets a little overstuffed now and then. I just think this is such an interesting mix of modern Japanese rock music, metal, prog, pop and small dash of ambience that it keeps me engaged all the way through with ease.

There's something about the general sound and style of this album that grabs me. If I had a criticism against the album, then I'd perhaps like if they had some more quiet moments going here, but that's not a biggie. I just think some of the more laid back moments are among the best.

The band has two other albums as well (only one of which is on Spotify), but I picked this one because it's shorter and I expected it to go over about as well as a Quran reading at an alt-right rally.

10/10 - mucho fantastico. I hope this band sticks around, because I really want to hear what happens when they figure out what to do with this band and refine things a bit more.

Psy-Fi · 06-18-2018, 04:12 AM

Not the type of music I generally listen to but I did find this one rather interesting. The production sounded quite good and I liked the way it was mixed and the way the instruments and vocals interacted throughout the album. There was a lot going on here and it sounded intriguing enough to me that I listened to it a second time to focus more on the layers of sound. Probably not something I'd purchase for my collection and not something I'll go out of my way to listen to but I enjoyed it and gave it a "Like."

8/10

~~MicShazam~~ · 06-18-2018, 06:55 AM

Is it just me, or are people really half-assing this album club thing these days? I'm obviously not talking about Anteater and Psy-Fi, but just about everyone else who's supposed to be a member.

Psy-Fi · 06-18-2018, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

Is it just me, or are people really half-assing this album club thing these days? I'm obviously not talking about Anteater and Psy-Fi, but just about everyone else who's supposed to be a member.

Time to trim some deadwood.

Trollheart · 06-18-2018, 09:01 AM

I'm very much behind, but with Karen being sick, then the Bowie classics and Metal Classics, and add in now the World Cup, time has been at a premium. I will catch up though. I'm, what, three albums behind at the moment?

Neapolitan · 06-19-2018, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

Time to trim some deadwood.

Are you talking about your music collection?

Trollheart · 06-21-2018, 05:15 AM

Giving this a spin now. Like the Dir En Grey albums I've heard so far, there's some really good stuff and some totally meh stuff, a combination which makes it hard to be properly interested in the album. I found it kind of playing in the background as I did other things, with the odd track making me pay attention, but generally it didn't make that much of an impression.

However I expect it needs more listens and as I wasn't really focussed on it the first time I'll give it a few more tries, see if I can change that Meh to a Like, though I imagine that's as far as it will go. Best I can aim for.

Trollheart · 07-08-2018, 09:52 AM

Personally, being so behind as I am, I'm using a new mini-matrix to review the albums. Anyone who wants to use it from now on is welcome: I'll add it to the OP.

Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? I only know of Dir En Grey, and that through of course MicShaz. Not familiar with any side-projects of any of the band members.
Expectations (if any): Hard to say. I doubt I'll hate it though.
Initial impression: Decent rock/metal with sort of post-hardcore overtones, especially in some of the vocals
Favourite track(s): "Leather Field", "Foster Mother", "Ameagari No Yuushi", "Maniera", "Focus"
Least favourite track(s): "Hakuro", "Celeste"
Overall impression: Decent album. Not blown away by it or anything, but not bad.
Chances of listening to further material from this artist? I wouldn't be averse.
Rating (not mandatory): 6/10
Comments: The same as the other two times I listened to it, unfortunately. It really isn't keeping my attention. I'm now on the fourth track and I didn't even realise. Mind you, the digital piano in "Foster Mother" is really nice. Picking up now. Not bad at all in the end.

View Poll Results: How Much Did You Enjoy The Album?
Loved it	1	14.29%
Liked it	4	57.14%
Meh	1	14.29%
Disliked it	0	0%
Hated it	1	14.29%
Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll

06-18-2018, 09:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	I'm very much behind, but with Karen being sick, then the Bowie classics and Metal Classics, and add in now the World Cup, time has been at a premium. I will catch up though. I'm, what, three albums behind at the moment? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-21-2018, 05:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Giving this a spin now. Like the Dir En Grey albums I've heard so far, there's some really good stuff and some totally meh stuff, a combination which makes it hard to be properly interested in the album. I found it kind of playing in the background as I did other things, with the odd track making me pay attention, but generally it didn't make that much of an impression. However I expect it needs more listens and as I wasn't really focussed on it the first time I'll give it a few more tries, see if I can change that Meh to a Like, though I imagine that's as far as it will go. Best I can aim for. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-08-2018, 09:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Personally, being so behind as I am, I'm using a new mini-matrix to review the albums. Anyone who wants to use it from now on is welcome: I'll add it to the OP. Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? I only know of Dir En Grey, and that through of course MicShaz. Not familiar with any side-projects of any of the band members. Expectations (if any): Hard to say. I doubt I'll hate it though. Initial impression: Decent rock/metal with sort of post-hardcore overtones, especially in some of the vocals Favourite track(s): "Leather Field", "Foster Mother", "Ameagari No Yuushi", "Maniera", "Focus" Least favourite track(s): "Hakuro", "Celeste" Overall impression: Decent album. Not blown away by it or anything, but not bad. Chances of listening to further material from this artist? I wouldn't be averse. Rating (not mandatory): 6/10 Comments: The same as the other two times I listened to it, unfortunately. It really isn't keeping my attention. I'm now on the fourth track and I didn't even realise. Mind you, the digital piano in "Foster Mother" is really nice. Picking up now. Not bad at all in the end. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-14-2018, 11:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	88Kasyo Junrei are cool as ****. Just saying. I've been looking for their CD's for over a year, but they're hard to come by to say the least. They haven't really gone international yet.

06-16-2018, 09:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	I like everything about this album. Despite how I don't think they've made a truly classic album yet, this is still a top scorer for me. I really like the layered, textured sound and the kinetic/melodic songwriting. The singer is excellent and more than a little varied in his approach. I really like the musicianship on the album, despite how the mix arguably gets a little overstuffed now and then. I just think this is such an interesting mix of modern Japanese rock music, metal, prog, pop and small dash of ambience that it keeps me engaged all the way through with ease. There's something about the general sound and style of this album that grabs me. If I had a criticism against the album, then I'd perhaps like if they had some more quiet moments going here, but that's not a biggie. I just think some of the more laid back moments are among the best. The band has two other albums as well (only one of which is on Spotify), but I picked this one because it's shorter and I expected it to go over about as well as a Quran reading at an alt-right rally. 10/10 - mucho fantastico. I hope this band sticks around, because I really want to hear what happens when they figure out what to do with this band and refine things a bit more.

06-18-2018, 06:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	Is it just me, or are people really half-assing this album club thing these days? I'm obviously not talking about Anteater and Psy-Fi, but just about everyone else who's supposed to be a member.