Founded: 2003
Members:
-Vocals: ジョウ (Jyou)
-Guitar: 乙魅 (Omi)
-Guitar: ミコ (miko)
-Bass: 猶人 (Naoto)
-Drums: マリ (mally)
TWIN GATE: November 3rd, 2010
Tracklist:
- DECIDE 4:33
- Maid of Orleans (Orleans no Shoujo) 4:02
- KNIFE （Album mix）5:04
- Neverland 3:22
- RESONANCE 4:29
- VANGUARD 4:41
- Blaze 3:24
- unforgive you 4:25
- World without End (Owari no nai Sekai) 3:54
- Cradle 6:06
TWIN GATE is the first full album of exist†trace, but actually only 4 songs are new. Some were already on previous EP's and some are just re-recorded versions of older songs. But starting from the beginning. There's no intro and no time to get prepared. DECIDE wastes no time. Drumming, guitar riffs, Jyous' voice - everything is showing you that they haven't come over for a nice cup of tea. Instead, they like to prove you that they aren't your typical VK band. The unique voice of Jyou fits in perfectly in the darkness, despair and desire that's always surrounding exist†trace and DECIDE is a perfect example.
If you thought that they can't get any more darker, the 2nd song, Maid of Orleans (Orleans no Shoujo), will teach you better. It's even harder than the 1st song of the album but has yet much more variety in Jyous' singing. Just like Jeanne d'Arc, exist†trace is one of the not too many all female bands in the male-dominated VK scene and they have to fight and prove themselves every time again.
The name KNIFE (Album Mix) reveals that there was another version before, though I can't hear too much of a difference. Compared to the previous two songs, it sounds a bit plain. There isn't really something special to this song, especially for people that have heard it before. Somewhat of a low point of the album, but gladly, there aren't that many.
Neverland is totally making up for KNIFE. Starting with Jyou shouting "Take me !" and the title, you just have to think of Peter Pan. It has that "mysterious" feeling and the floating sound, especially the bridge part in the middle, is making you think of another world, that may be somewhere but seems unreachable. Unfortunately, it is the shortest song on TWIN GATE with only 3:22.
RESONANCE was already on their 3rd mini-album, “Ambivalent Symphony”. The last minutes were just a break to start over now even more aggressive than before. Jyou is showing here for the first time her passion for growling, which she is frequently showing at live shows. This version of RESONANCE is much harder than the original one without drifting into the "just loud and dull"-corner.
VANGUARD surprises with the synthy sound at the beginning, but that doesn't last for too long. After a few seconds, the band is taking over and it gets pressed into the background without completely disappearing for the rest of the song. There is much more of Jyous' growling in here than in any other song. These parts, together with strong drumming and tough riffs, make VANGAURD possibly the hardest song of TWIN GATE.
Blaze is also not a new song but unlike RESONANCE, that was made harder, they softened Blaze down a bit. It's very similar to DECIDE now and has a pretty upbeat touch now. Besides that, the only noteworthy thing is that Naotos bass playing is really standing out here. For those who liked the harder version better, this is another low point on the album. But for those who like it more mainstream, they will really like this song.
Unforgive you sounds more like a ballad throughout the chorus. Clear and soft voice, the guitars go calmly into the back, soft drumming and the usage of the keyboard really pointing out here make the chorus completely different from the rest of the song and maybe the whole album, for a few exceptions. Definitely one of the more "beautiful" songs, if you want to use that expression. Yet it's still maintaining its sadness and depressing feeling which make this song really stand out.
World without End (Owari no Nai Sekai) was also on “Ambivalent Symphony” and underwent the same changing than Blaze. It was also made more upbeat than the original. But unlike Blaze, it's making the song even better here. The sound is now fitting in terms like "generic j-rock/VK", but it still has exist†trace written on it. Now it's a song that should be perfect for live concerts.
The album ends with Cradle and it's quite the surprise, not only because it's the longest track with 6:06. Instead of their typical hard sound, it starts with strings playing a slow, majestic tune until the band members gradually join in. Just like they want to surprise the listeners and counter the arguments that they can't do something like that. The 2nd half of the song is what you could call a classic rock ballad. It is a pretty good end for the album and leaves the listener back with the sad feeling that it is over now.
Summary:
Even with a few slower songs, TWIN GATE is definitely harder than the average VK album. It is something special not only because all the members are female but for its unique sound. The only downside is, that there are only 4 new songs. It is more of a new mini album with a few new songs. For the future, I hope they will soon bring out a "real" new album. Those who like a hard sound combined with melodic tunes, will love TWIN GATE. Even those who like it more mainstream now have a chance to get into exist†trace as there were never this close to mainstream than now. And for your interest: they will make their US debut at the 2011 Sakura-con in Seattle, Washington.
Rating: 7.5/10
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