The GazettE - DIM [review]

a.k.a. Buy. This. Now.

Hey again. Everyone's favourite AWESOME REVIEWER PERSON here. This time, I'm reviewing what can only be described as one of the best albums I have ever heard. Ever. Review ends.


So, the CD opens with a haunting instrumental, namely "Hakuri" (or 剥離, as it should be called, but most of you I'm guessing don't read squiggly). It's an amazing introduction, and one that sets the bar ridiculously high for the rest of the album. But, by God, does it live up to that standard.

Next up comes "The Invisible Wall". A tune to headbang to if ever there was one. Ruki's beautiful vocals switch from singing to screaming and back again seamlessly. Uruha, Aoi, and of course, my personal favourite Reita (the one with the tea towel on his nose) create an epic accompaniment with their guitars and basses. Even Koi on the drums is flawless. Yes, I'm in love. In an entirely non-sexual way, of course ^_^;



^That's them :D

Track the Third - A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN. Another amazing song. This is J-Rock as it should be. If anything, the fourth track, LEECH, improves on an already brilliant start to the album. Then err, we have Nakigahara (泣ヶ原), which goes on for a biblical 7 minutes and 19 seconds. I wouldn't have it any other way :)

The next track to go spinning around your CD player is Erika (エ リ カ). A soothing instrumental which will give you some time to recover after having your senses assaulted continuously for 5 tracks. Trust me, you'll need it, because the next track, HEADACHE MAN, will knock your socks clean off. And possibly your feet too, leaving you with two bloodied stumps. Yeah, it's loud. Unless you listen to it at low volume. Then it's not loud. Duh.

Suddenly, the ear-splitting awesomeness of HEADACHE MAN gives way to the ballad "Guren" (紅蓮). This is, without doubt, one of the more calming songs on the album, and would recommend watching the PV to it (that's promo video (read: music video), to all you J-Rock newbies out there), if only to see one of their guitarists strumming away on a double-necked guitar. Such a good song :')

Then, the um... innovatively titled 13STAIRS[-]1 comes in with one of the best riffs I have heard in a while. And I do mean best. Although the song itself is a little odd. Not one for me. Distress and Coma is a good song though, easily making up for the failings of its predecessor.

Just when I was getting slightly bored with this album, along came another instrumetal. Yeah, another one. There are nine of these in total on the disc (Count 'em). It's alright, and certainly bridges the gap between Distress and Coma and Shiroki Yuutsu (白き優鬱), which by the way, is great.

Track fourteen (big numbers Louise, don't hurt yourself!) on DIM is IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS. It's a bit naff. Surprise! Also, hilarious Engrish lyrics:

"Let's deliver nonfiction
A song like misfortune pride
I vomit original pain"

Oh yeah, I vomit original pain too...wait, what?!

Track 16: Ogre. It's a more traditional metal song, perhaps something I'd expect to hear from Deathgaze (who aren't that good by the way).

Finally, the last song rears its not-so-ugly head. "DIM SCENE".... beautiful. It's the perfect way to end a perfect album.

So, in conclusion: "WE ARE THE CAUSE OF YOUR HEADACHE!" chant the boys in black. Yes, yes you are, i thought, staggering off for some Neurofen, and a thoroughly deserved lie down. Best. Album. Ever.

Oh yeah, by the way, this album is seventeen tracks (or an hour) long, and I've refrained from talking about a couple of the instrumentals. So, er, you'll be there for a while. That's my only complaint. But hey, at least it's a GOOD hour, unlike Lady Gaga's debut album (but that, my friends, is another review entirely).

Good lord, this review goes on a bit :S

A*