Veteran hardrockers GRANRODEO are back with a new single after a couple of months away from the public eye. Shounen no Hate promises showcases the band back in peak form, a return to their roots.
Single: 少年の果て (Shounen no Hate) Label: Lantis Release date: 23/11/2016 Genre: J-Rock
Tracklist:
1 - 少年の果て 2 - 名も無き日々 3 - HARD DRIVING MIDNIGHT
Track by track analysis:
1 – 少年の果て
When it was announced that GRANRODEO would be the ones to perform the ending theme song for the second installment of mecha anime “Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans“, people knew that it was going to be a hyped song. Usually GRANRODEO‘s songs are the perfect fit for anime, never failing to impress everyone.
And that’s exactly what Shounen no Hate does.
Kicking off with a groovy mid-tempo beat and melodic guitar riffs, this track doesn’t go bonkers trying to keep things fast and heavy like some of the band’s previous endeavors. Keeping it classy, Shounen no Hate is a rocking tune made to make you headbang along.
e-Zuka‘s golden touch in the guitar department takes us back to the 80’s glam/hair metal days with those clean, melodic riffs in the verses. The guitar solo in the bridge is stuff of the legends once again, hyping up the track before the final chorus.
KISHOW‘s vocals this time around are incredibly melodic, bringing out the emotions in the track in the best way, engaging the listener with his powerful falsetto and technical mid-tones. A gem of a track without being too show off.
2 – 名も無き日々
Speeding things up with the up-tempo bassy drums, NAMO MUKI HIBI is the typical GRANRODEO song that fans crave for: with a thunderous bassline lining up with the double bass drums, the instrumental alone has a depth that really reminds us of some of their previous hit songs. With a robust base already in motion, it leaves space for the guitar to shine (as it always does especially with those delicious guitar solos near the end of the songs) and KISHOW‘s energizing vocals to add the final touches to the song.
Take into attention that this track keeps things rather simple with some interesting touches that can only be noticed at a second or third listens – we won’t spoil it for you. Yet another rocking tune that kept us on the edge of our seats.
3 – HARD DRIVING MIDNIGHT
HARD DRIVING MIDNIGHT puts completely aside the fast tempo instrumentals and replaces it with everything screaming classic 80’s garage rock. Speedy drums are replaced by splashy, mid-tempo ones – fantastic to enhance the rest of the instruments in this track -, the bass is rich, giving a groovy feel to this track, and the guitar work… The guitar work goes down on the memory lane and shows some Hendrix touches here and there, in the end making the already groovy rock song, into an even more captivating track.
To complete this, the delicate touches given by the synth enhanced guitar riffs in the chorus completely sold us this track.
KISHOW‘s trademark high pitched scream (fans will know what I’m talking about) shows signs of life on this track, but the highlight, of course, is not that. The way he approaches the lyrics and ultimately delivers them, makes the song not only more melodic but also richer – setting this song apart from previous ones by a mile.
Final consideration
The band is back at peak form as we reach the end of 2016.
Shounen no Hate is a stunning release that revisits everything that the band has done right in their vast career and polishes it further. Classic, melodic guitar work, addictive punk-rockish basslines, powerful metal drumming and those vocals that melt everyone away with a simple falsetto or taste of vibrato, this release is some of GRANRODEO‘s best work in these past two years.
There’s not much to add to our review only that we feel that in 2017, if the band keeps up the momentum from this release, they will present us an even more sophisticated, edgier and polished GRANRODEO and we can’t be more excited about it.
Welcome back GRANRODEO!
Shounen no Hate is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
[…] Shounen no Hate (2016) […]
[…] [As previously reviewed] When it was announced that GRANRODEO would be the ones to perform the ending theme song for the second installment of mecha anime “Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans“, people knew that it was going to be a hyped song. Usually GRANRODEO‘s songs are the perfect fit for anime, never failing to impress everyone. And that’s exactly what “Shounen no Hate” does. Kicking off with a groovy mid-tempo beat and melodic guitar riffs, this track doesn’t go bonkers trying to keep things fast and heavy like some of the band’s previous endeavors. Keeping it classy, “Shounen no Hate” is a rocking tune made to make you headbang along. e-Zuka‘s golden touch in the guitar department takes us back to the 80’s glam/hair metal days with those clean, melodic riffs in the verses. The guitar solo in the bridge is stuff of the legends once again, amping up the track before the final chorus. KISHOW‘s vocals this time around are incredibly melodic, bringing out the emotions in the track in the best way, engaging the listener with his powerful falsetto and technical mid-tones. A gem of a track without being too show off. 5/5 […]
[…] GRANRODEO – Shounen no Hate […]