EROSION keeps on impressing with its versatility sound-wise, going for a unique set of songs, and the continuous improvements on the vocal end.
Brief introduction
CARNELIAN BLOOD is a mixed media – voice comics, music, etc – project created by Rejet. EROSION stems from the franchise as its representative group, a rock band with 5 vocals.
EROSION‘s lineup includes Shoya Chiba, leader Ryota Suzuki, Arthur Lounsbery, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, and Yuya Hirose.
Review
Title: EROSION with YOU from CARNELIAN BLOOD Vol.3 NEIGHT Release date: 23/02/2022 Label: Rejet Genre: Trap / Rap-Rock / Ballad
Tracklist:
1 - NEVER LET “U” GO (EROSION song) 2 - Still... (NEIGHT solo track) 3 - Out of the frying pan into the fire. 4 - 窮鼠猫を噛む 5 - Qui ne risque rien n’a rien. 6 - 逐二兔、不得一兔 7 - Noch ist nicht aller Tage Abend.
Track by track analysis:
1 – NEVER LET “U” GO
EROSION changes things completely around for their sound in “NEVER LET “U” GO”.
Where shredding guitars would normally be in the spotlight, a sitar melody powers through, adding a dreamy and mystical vibe to this trap-meets-rock track. The beat is hard-hitting, focusing on a deafening bassline and with a tight snare on top.
The sitar arrives as a perfect contrast, emphasizing beauty in darkness as its main theme composition-wise.
The build-up to the chorus puts all those elements in the backseat, bringing forward electric guitars a simple snare, and hi-hat triplets.
Despite how danceable the verses are, the chorus is a slow burn banger with powerful guitar riffs joining in.
During the bridge, things quiet down, with that dreamy vibe in the intro settling, atmospheric synths painting a mesmerizing soundscape in which the vocals of EROSION’s members shine.
It is worth mentioning that the band members deliver one hell of an impressive performance with dynamic, clean unison parts with all members complementing each other whilst being really easy to tell apart in the mix.
Now, this was an unexpected sound and performance that have left a mark.
2 – Still…
Time for the solo track, this time around performed by NEIGHT (CV: Ryota Suzuki). The soundscape is wide, atmospheric synths and a bright piano painting this delicate, romantic song.
“Still….” has an unusual structure. The first verse is split into two parts, the delicate, airy part – you can argue it is a long intro – and then the rock-driven, slow-paced ballad part that leads to the chorus entering pretty late into the song.
The chorus is powerful emotionally, with everything about the instrumental showing care and love while Ryota Suzuki puts his vocal range and control to the test with a series of clean mid-tones and some high notes in the mix.
In the clean airy parts as well as in the chorus, Ryota Suzuki showcases his singing skills, confidently leading the way, adding falsetto (even head voice in some parts), some vibrato, and, ultimately, showing his control and consistency.
When the time comes for the rock-driven parts – basically the following verses and, in some way, the chorus -, Suzuki goes for an emotional performance, showcasing his range while comfortably delivering this tricky performance.
This is really the type of performance that will catch you by surprise if, like me, you’re not used to listening to Ryota Suzuki’s singing (isolated from a group).
Pure care and love in the form of a song with a performance that will arrive as one of the best surprises in EROSION’s participation in the EROSION with YOU from CARNELIAN BLOOD CD series.
Final considerations
I was not expecting anything of what I got with EROSION’s newest entry in the EROSION with YOU from CARNELIAN BLOOD CD series.
Trap and rock ballads? Not really on my list of what I expected for this CD.
“NEVER LET “U” GO” is all about teamwork on the vocal end. There is power, grit, and intensity in the verses and a delicate, almost gentle, and harmonious vibe in the chorus, with that part being, easily, one of the most melodic and in-sync performances that EROSION has delivered as a group.
While I usually have my reservations about unison usage in songs, this time around – and following the previous release –, it was mixed in a way that every member is clean, easy to tell apart while sounding in complete harmony within the group.
This is something I bloody love. The focus is simultaneously on the group as well as each member, individually.
I found this song to be more enjoyable than expected, especially after noticing trap with sitar melodies leading the way, but it works insanely well (mainly because the instrumental is really clean, without any major distractions).
When it comes to the solo track, “Still…” is a surprise in terms of music genre, vocals, and, believe it or not, the tone.
EROSION’s songs are usually rather aggressive with their tone being rather intense, rough, even violent at times. In NEIGHT (CV: Ryota Suzuki)’s “Still…”, listeners get to listen to pure love.
Not nostalgia.
Not twisted love.
But PURE love.
That is as weird as it is refreshing to find in EROSION’s repertoire, once again emphasizing that the solo songs will completely stray away from what fans are used to from the band.
Ryota Suzuki has shown time and time again he’s the anchor to EROSION’s sound, being the stable baritone within this group that levels all tenors and baritones to sound good. I feel like his work on the vocal end is not often appreciated but Suzuki, just because of that, was already impressing me.
Now, the opportunity arose for him to lead the way and perform a solo track and what a performance he delivered! Seeing how young he is and how high his level already is as a singer makes me quite excited about what he can pull off in the future.
As part of EROSION, Suzuki shows in “Still…” that he not only has control – lots of it – but also a complete comfort performing ballad-like songs while playing around with falsetto, vibrato, and head voice. He could pull all of those off – even sort of showing off in his legato sections midway through the chorus – with a lot of air left, making everything about his overall performance sound powerful and full of emotion.
If you’re looking for pure rock coming from this CD, it’s obvious you won’t find it. EROSION’s “NEVER LET “U” GO” is all about trap music – with some rock – and “Still…” is a rock ballad of sorts, quite soft and romantic.
But if you want to check how EROSION is evolving as a band, experimenting with new sounds, instruments, and approaches to their singing, then I can’t recommend this CD enough. Really, go check it if you do have time for it, this is a refreshing take on the band’s sound.
EROSION with YOU from CARNELIAN BLOOD Vol.3 NEIGHT is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
“EROSION with YOU from CARNELIAN BLOOD Vol.3 NEIGHT” is available for streaming on Spotify.
Do not support piracy. Remember to support EROSION by streaming via official outlets.
