εpsilon

(WRITER’S NOTE: I have done this review days beforehand. Even before I got hooked on watching Bleach.)

I remembered checking a YouTube video before, featuring recommended melodeath (that’s “melodic death” for you fools out there) bands… and I saw Blood Stain Child (which will be referred to as “BSC” for the following times I’m going to say it), with their song “Truth” (from “Idolator”, their third album), if I’m not mistaken. From that day on, the band has earned them a fan in me. What’s with them, you say? Obsolete people like you might not know this but as far as I know, they’re the only melodeath metal band that incorporated elements of techno. Yes, “melodeath trance metal”. You should hear it for yourself (and you don’t need to like it, but I do like it, at least).

From “Silence of Northern Hell”, when they sounded a la Bodom; to “Mystic Your Heart”, which sounded much like Western melodeath copycat dashed with trance; to “Idolator” and “Mozaiq”, both of which sounded as if they have an entirely different identity, I listened to (and I liked those albums). Even though “Mozaiq” is an inferior knock-off compared to “Idolator”. Now with their new album, “εpsilon” (NOTE: never spelt with a regular ‘E’, remember that!), I would call this new shift in sound as:

“extreme trance metal”

Yes, I know there’s no such thing/word/term, so I made up my own. Got a problem with that?

“You’re nothing but a poseur now, La:morT. Can’t you see that they have sold out, and in a very bad way? Just the thought of ‘extreme trance metal’ makes me puke my guts… bleagh!!!” Heard me say that I only listen to metal and nothing else? No, so screw yourself. Oh, and by the way, BSC did a good job in making this (although not that exceptional).

Let’s see what’s with their new album now… hmm…

Clear production? Check.
BSC melodeath riffs? Check, albeit in reduced amounts (not to mention that some of them are “recycled”).
Ryo’s screams? They’re back, since Sadew’s in the band no more. Besides, I liked Ryo’s more.
Techno-ness? BIG CHECK. Actually, most of the songs here are keyboard-driven, like “SIRIUS VI” and “STARGAZER” although songs like “Unlimited Alchemy” and “MOON LIGHT WAVE” still have more melodeath that BSC used to play a lot of.

What’s really new is something very obvious. ‘Cause if it ain’t, it’s either you haven’t heard of their old stuff, or you’re just totally deaf, and in that case you shouldn’t be reading my review anymore.
Muttering words aside, the new thing that I was talking about a while ago is Sophia’s singing. What else could be obviously new here?! Her alto singing complements BSC’s new direction. It’s just wonderful, in a very sweet way or something.

“How about the songs, La:morT!? Get on to them already!” Sheesh, as if I don’t know that. Just stop hurrying me and you better read instead of babbling gibberish around.

Hmm, songs in the album, eh? Let’s start with the songs I don’t like much, three of them, if that’s alright, which I’m sure will be alright with you people since you’re the ones reading (and I’m the one writing). It’s not that I really dislike these songs. It’s just that they sound totally out of place. First off is “Dedicated to VIOLATOR”, which has a happy pop-techno-rock feel slathered all over it featuring Sophia’s vocals all over (if you won’t count the backing vocals done by Ryo). We have “Merry-Go-Round” as the next song. A less cheerful version of the previous song infected with a bit of the usual BSC elements (melodeath elements), which is the very reason why I don’t know what I really feel about this song.

“I thought there’s a third song?” Of course there is, you’re just hurrying me up. Again.

The last one is (obviously) “SAI-KA-NO”, a soft and slow outro to the album. Again, no songs (except “Merry-Go-Round”, which I have mixed feelings about) are necessarily bad, just out of place, for most part.

“How about the songs you like, La:morT?” Yes, yes… as if I don’t know that…

What I really like in this album are the first three songs. “SIRIUS VI” shows the band’s new direction, probably the way they want it, resulting to “extreme trance metal”, and the same I could also say to “FOREVER FREE”. Although it sounds more melancholic and more guitar-driven, I think that both songs are great songs of their own right. “STARGAZER” meanwhile, is not only the first song devoid of any “metallisms” (or whatever you would call “metal elements” in just one word), but it is also the first solo performance by Sophia on the lead vocals. Hearing it for the first time, I thought that it was epic, although I think it’s just cool now. Not as epic, but still awesome.

Other awesome songs include “Unlimited Alchemist” and “ETERNAL”. With a vibe akin to their former albums (especially “Idolator”), it again highlights “extreme trance metal”, with (more or less) both the guitars and keyboards driving the song together. Another one is “ELECTRICITY”, which is also devoid of any “metallisms” (almost), though one can’t deny it has rock elements dashed over it, and although less epic than “STARGAZER”, it still is undeniably cool. Last one probably is “La+”, which, again, has a vibe close to their former albums (although this one has a sound closer to “Mozaiq”). Moreover, it displays BSC’s new sound (prolly no need to mention it repeatedly), just like “Unlimited Alchemist” and “ETERNAL”, with more guitar play this time.

This album really gave me a hard time. It’s been very hard to review and decide upon their new material. Anyway, it’s been fun listening to “εpsilon” (again, never spelt with a regular ‘E’), minus a few recycled riffs and poppy-ness. I don’t want to say who should listen to their new album or what, just give the album a try if… my description of it appeals you. Otherwise, you’re a hopeless prick. Get outta here, then.

Written for my blog. lamortisdeath.blogspot.com