#toumei kaidan

[anamon-book]

とうめい階段　toumei kaidan とうめいロボ＋JOJO広重＋スハラケイゾウ 2008.4.6(sun) at Alchemy Music Store Alchemy Records（AMSDVDR-013）

[drkreviews]

Knocking to Another World

Here I am with the third part of May’s themed week in “Throwback Thursday”! The subject is always related to the visual kei band Umbrella, but this time we are going back to the third single Knocking..., released on 26th February 2014. The single’s concept is about knocking to a door towards a different dimension, fitting with the fact that this is the latest release under Starwave Records. And now... let’s review!

-Door [gateway to a better world]: the single starts with harsh notes, kicking off a rhythmical theme, empowered by the deep guitar; Yui’s voice is limpid and pretty flowing inside a really catchy and enjoyable rock track, easy to listen. ---> 9/10

-Hi jou kaidan (Not emotional stair) [going far from feelings]: the first b-side is opened by a dark melody, evolving in a extreme and faster rock sound, underlined by heavy guitar riffs; the vocals are darker and more metallic, for a really energetic theme, enriched by a compelling bass. ---> 9/10

-Ito. (Thread.) [not seeing the love]: this song is opened by Yui’s clear vocals and a limpid guitar, leading up to a slow theme, empowered by a strong drumming and falsettoed vocals; an engaging tune, with a relevant melody and a good vocal interpretation. ---> 9/10

-Toumei (Transparence) [memories trapped in a dream]: the single ends with a song featuring a fast rhythm, well driven by a strong drumming; Yui’s voice is really rapid and fitting in the flowing rock theme, in a quite intense track, where the guitar is once again a fundamental part of the sound. ---> 9/10

Final Vote ---> 9/10

After four rewarding years, made of good and interesting releases, Umbrella decided that it was the time of changing their style and released Knocking... as final product under Starwave Records, widening their musical range in a meaningful way. The single shows as always the gloomy and nostalgical shades typical of the band, but there’s something more, which hints to a more various style in the future releases, which is the presence of extreme and soft elements, which find their own place in the band’s image, making them more interesting that what expected at that time. In fact, Umbrella made a meaningful leap after their label change, becoming maturer and more appealing and surely this single helped them in that sense. A single for who needs to see Umbrella’s last time with the Starwave Records, before hitting a major audience.

That’s all folks! See you on Sunday for the final part of this themed week in “Focusing on”!

Thanks for the reading!

*Sorry for the delay*