“魂のノンストップラヴァー / 絆-KIZUNA-” is Marginal #4‘s latest release. Going back to their roots, there’s nothing on this release that fails to impress.
Title: "魂のノンストップラヴァー / 絆-KIZUNA-" Label: Rejet/Pythagoras Production Release date: 29/03/2017 Genre: J-Pop
Tracklist:
1 - 魂のノンストップラヴァー (Marginal #4) 2 - 絆-KIZUNA- (Toshiki Masuda) 3 - 魂のノンストップラヴァー (anime version) 4 - 絆-KIZUNA- (anime version) 5 - 魂のノンストップラヴァー (off vocal) 6 - 絆-KIZUNA- (off vocal)
Track by track analysis:
1 – 魂のノンストップラヴァー
Toshiki Masuda takes the wheel for this solo song. Dirty guitar riffs and synths lead the way on this high throttle pop-rock song with a catchy chorus. Fast paced, this song benefits from the stunning bass and guitar work, elements that brought this song’s instrumental to greater heights. The synths might be a bit distracting or even overwhelming at times – especially when they are battling with guitars for attention in the last spurt of the song. Other than that, the instrumental is energetic and addictive. With this solo performance Masuda managed to prove all doubters wrong. He’s fierce, matching the tone of the song perfectly. His polished mid-tones were essencial to push this song even further. A spectacular performance that was downplayed by the synths. 4.5/5
2 – 絆-KIZUNA-
Marginal #4 return in full force for this song. Almost no one was hoping for Marginal #4 to return with a powerful pop-rock sound after their last releases. Turns out this time around, and to complete the anime series (this is the last song as a quartet featured in the anime), the group opted for a “edgier” sound and it paid off. The song’s raging guitar riffs that guide the lister right from the start will certainly grab your attention, the drums are powerful, heavily rooted on the bass and the synths – although still an active presence in the song – don’t hinder it too much. But does this instrumental work well with the vocal performances this time around? We can firmly say that it works better than ever. 絆-KIZUNA- is Marginal #4‘s wink at the past, but with an eye into the future. A perfect symbiosis. 5/5
Final rating:
Two stunning releases within a month. First “Kokoro Hitotsu” and now this whole single. Marginal #4 have had their rough patches here and there, but these two releases – and couple of other songs released in the past year – bring joy to the unit’s fans.
Masuda has grown a lot. We’ve been saying this for a couple of the group’s releases but it’s the truth. His perfeormance can’t even be compared to his debut days. It’s emotional, polished, edgier, versatile. He has good control over his tone and fits with pop-rock in the best way possible. His performance in 魂のノンストップラヴァー was impressive.
For those of you that have been following Marginal #4 since their debut “絆-KIZUNA-” will certainly feel nostalgic. It’s been some time since the group has released a single that is fully pop-rock driven as their debut releases. We’ve found some songs during last year that brought that feeling back but were scattered among odd or even bad releases. This time around both tracks are of top tier quality.
With this song we can say that Marginal #4 have returned to their roots. It was that edgier rock sound with pop’s addictiveness from the lyrics and vocal delivery that made this group’s debut incredibly fresh. And it was this exact sound that won us over this time around.
“Tamashii no Non Stop Lover / Kizuna” is available for purchase on CDJAPAN for all overseas fans.
[…] [As previously reviewed] Marginal #4 return in full force for this song. Almost no one was hoping for Marginal #4to return with a powerful pop-rock sound after their last releases. Turns out this time around, and to complete the anime series (this is the last song as a quartet featured in the anime), the group opted for a “edgier” sound and it paid off. The song’s raging guitar riffs that guide the lister right from the start will certainly grab your attention, the drums are powerful, heavily rooted on the bass and the synths – although still an active presence in the song – don’t hinder it too much. But does this instrumental work well with the vocal performances this time around? We can firmly say that it works better than ever. 絆-KIZUNA- is Marginal #4‘s wink at the past, but with an eye into the future. A perfect symbiosis. 5/5 […]