Album: Kagrra, - Shu

Kagrra, deliver their first and most likely only release this year with their sixth studio album entitled Shu meaning jewel when translated. Their previous album Core featured their most experimental output side by side with their traditional song styles. So what does Shu bring us from Kagrra, this time?

The album begins with the vivid, vast, Japanese instruments and sounds colored Paraizo that rolls off as an perfect show reel of this bands sound and capabilities fusing harder rock guitars, Japanese music inspired melodies with a rich, beautiful chorus and wonderful instrumentals. No doubt Paraizo is one heck of a perfectly executed sure-shots and a great way to begin the album.

Uzu reflects once more the wide, ethnic flaired sound of this last year's single. The vast instrumentals unusual for a rock song, would most likely impress anybody as well as Akiya's tight, amazing solo that gives another hard edge to this "epic" piece. Ren introduces us to the song with a gentle melody and then emerges in a koto verse that had some Satsuki reminiscence. Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei just lifts up the tempo of Ren, but follows the same mood type but ripps off their older song Rin on an almost identical chorus.

Sakura Tsukiyo closes the first half of the album which we could mildly label as generic.Starting off with a lulling, nighty verse and going onto the upbeat-but-not-quite chorus very similar to one in the song Kaze off the album Shizuku.

Kikokuu Shuushou ties on the glimmering riffs of Sakura Tsukiyo, but sounds more firmer and harder. And on the explosive, strong, melodious chorus where Isshi's deep singing sounds simply amazing, very expressive and much more confident than when he sings in the high registers. There is something simply strong and rapturing in this song that makes it stand out more than the other songs on the album. A nice way to start the slight "not-so-generic" half of the album.

Now the rest of the album made me think about Kagrra, sneaking into the secret vaults of other PS COMPANY bands and grabbing some of their unpublished materials and modifying them slightly. Jusou has got this thick, thick mood, thicker than it was on their album Miyako and way more sinister on the verses before emerging in the powerful, IN-YOUR-FACE chorus which style somehow brings GazettE allusions to the head.

Subarashiki kana? Jinsei is just way too weird, unmatching and unappropriate with it's saxophones hitting into something that wants to be subtly hard and very upbeat at the same time. But yes the saxophones are what is annoying me the most in this song, because despite all the rocky, metaly edges on this band they were always a rock band with a strong Japanese sound. This song sounds more like the attempt to freshen up something that was left to be a filler track, but unfortunately the Miyavish, enhanced track doesn't do anything good to the album other than just capturing your attention for a couple of moments (either in positive or negative way).

Towa ni... would pass as an Alice nine. track thanks to it's upbeat, playful, riffs but when you hear Isshi instead of Shou on the mic, well that's when you realize it's Kagrra. And again the chorus reminds on one of their other songs, in this case Kamikaze. Eien ni... is not bad in it's intention, but it provides way too familiar stuff other than trying to bring something new. The album closes with the wonderful song off the single Uzu called Hoozuki where I simply can't find adequate words to describe it's melodious chorus, the reminiscent and swaying atmosphere, the way the song simply goes through you, ah, like sunbeams through a dark cloud after a rainy day.

The album features the unmistaken, unmatchable Kagrra, sound and expression, fuses wonderfully the traditional Japanese sounds with powerful rock music and a feel as if their music is meant solely for the sake of beauty. Also the songs Paraizo, Uzu, Jusou and Hoozuki count not only as jewels on this album but also as gems in their discography, making this album a worthy listen even to the most demanding Kagrra, fans.

With all it good sides and those less successful sides Kagrra, still manage to deliver a recognizable sound and mood on their album Shu. Even though without any surprises nor will for experimenting Shu represents an excellent spring soundtrack which not only will Kagrra, fans enjoy but also fans of Japanese music overall.