D’espairsRay – Redeemer

Thursday, July 16, 2009

D’ESPAIRSRAY is a hard driven metal band from Japan, and they sure know how to make the most out of their melodies. Their brand of music combines many different styles, including glam, industrial, metal, hard rock, and they incorporate some strong electronics, essentially putting the final touches on the picture. These guys are making a name for themselves, and opening the 2008 Taste Of Chaos sure helped. And they’re back loud, proud, and with big sounds on Redeemer.

Redeemer opens up on a blast with “Lizard”, and introduce their sound. Giving a nu metal vibe, “Lizard” does show a strong formula, and while the verses concentrate on building up with clean singing and constant guitar strums like nu metal usually does, the chorus is when D’ESPAIRSRAY lets out the beast, and heavily distorted chugs are layered with beautiful electronics. The bridge plays the same role as the verses, but when they hit those catchy choruses, that is where the listener will start to pay more attention.

The release does stay at that constant pace using mostly the same aforementioned tricks, but that doesn’t mean they don’t do them well. In fact, they sound like they’ve found their sound for the moment. D’ESPAIRSRAY does play it pretty safe. Nothing re-invents the wheel at all, but a solid chunk of heavy music that’s bound to turn some heads on the commercial side, and maybe a few heads in the underground, depending what aspects you look at from their attack.

Redeemer closes with “Heaven’s Color”, and this is where D’ESPAIRSRAY does put some more color into their music. Kind of poppy, but listen to the melodies that shine brightly. Just the feel of ”Heaven’s Color” is friendly, including the little bursts of experimentation around mid point, and they let the song finish out on those melodies from the beginning. Repetitive, but a great melody.

Though simply structured (light to heavy to light to heavy), D’ESPAIRSRAY can structure a song, whether memorable melodies or exercising their strengths. I do see potential, and hopefully they break their self barriers more next time. For now, Redeemer is still a solid release, and they make those melodies soar.

D ESPAIRS RAY - REDEEMER