Suicide Ali - Sarau Fue to Yakusoku

By Stormraven24

Sarau Fue to Yakusoku

Artist: Suicide Ali
Type: Mini Album
Release Date: 02/29/2008
Price: 2100 Yen

My Rating

Songs - 8.5/10
Transitions - 8.5/10
Length - 7/10 (24:57)
Song Quality - 7.5/10
Overall - 8/10

Review

Thanks to Tainted Reality, Suicide Ali’s first mini album has been made available to JRock fans in North America a full month before it will be out in Japan. They have already gained a devoted fanbase in the US alone and rightfully so: they are definitely a talented group that deserves all the hype they have acquired for this release.

Although Goshi’s unique vocals are often lost amongst the other instruments (especially on "CHAINSAW"), it is far too short, and the overall sound quality could use some improvement, this mini album is worth a listen or six. The booklet included is also very nice; the cover art reminiscent of some on German rock group Rammstein’s albums, the pictures inside are beautiful and well done.

1. Tobira - There is good electronic work and drums on this track. The keyboard is very impressive, as it is in the whole album. Goshi’s vocals are clear and beautiful, but fade a bit during the chorus. Hisashi’s guitar solo near the 2:45 mark really stands out, but there is really nothing truly exceptional about this track. 7.5/10

2. CHAINSAW - A darker, heavier song than "tobira", this song really should have been longer rather than barely 2:30 minutes. The repetition of a few words in the beginning and the distortions of Goshi’s vocals give the song an eerie feel to it, but there is a highly annoying buzzing sound that comes from either the keyboard or the guitar that overpowers Goshi and the other instruments. 7.5/10

3. Kaze no Slave - This song is possibly Goshi’s best vocal work on the album, tied with "fuefuki douji". His soft vocals belie his talent and skill as he sings. Again, Yuu’s drum work is allowed to stand out and not be lost among Hisashi’s guitar, the keyboard, and Hiroshi’s bass. 8.5/10

4. Doumyaku - Sounding like something belonging on a soundtrack for something like Ringu or Ju-on, this track is perhaps the most powerful. Goshi goes even softer and higher than on the previous track, but he exudes more energy and presence. It closes with sounds like screeching metal that add the "creep factor" to the song as a whole. 8/10

5. Fuefuki Douji - Opening with beautiful and haunting woodwind, this is perhaps my favorite track on the mini album. More wonderful keyboard work and a lot more "oompf" from Goshi make it extremely enjoyable. I imagine this to be a very good song to perform and see live. 9/10

6. Mujin no Tokai - An almost-entirely instrumental piece, "mujin no tokai" is a very sleepy, mellow song that brings the listener down from the high induced by the previous five songs. Everything has been slowed down: drums, keyboard, and guitar. It gives the imagery of a dim, dense forest, or an open field blanketed by stars and meteors. In the final twenty seconds, Goshi gives his final words to the listener, almost like a farewell-for-now message. This is a very beautiful and ethereal piece, a fitting end to a great mini album. 9/10

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