Visual-kei rock project Executioner kicks the doors open in the 2D music panorama with the heavy rock tune “V-kei Sentai Executioner”.
What is Executioner?
Executioner is an original mixed media project created by HOTZIPANG and features character designs by Ajichika. The music is distributed by UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN.
The 3 bands, “Beelze Executioner’s“, “Asta Executioner’s“, and “Balbe Executioner’s“, each contract with demons and engage in a death battle for the future of humanity.
The music uses the latest original works by Japanese visual-kei rock artists, and the members’ stories unfold around the powerful and refined music to be released.
To know more about this project, check the guide here on the website!
Review
“V-kei Sentai Executioner” (V系戦隊エクスキューショナー) is available on streaming platforms worldwide.
Title: V-kei Sentai Executioner (V系戦隊エクスキューショナー) Release date: 31/05/2023 Label: UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN Genre: Visual-kei Rock
Tracklist:
1 - V-kei Sentai Executioner
Track analysis:
1 – V-kei Sentai Executioner
If you have been looking for a dark rock sound with a visual-kei flavor, the Executioner project has got what you are looking for.
This is one of the heaviest rock tunes released in the past couple of years by a 2D music project.
The intro brings in glitch guitar riffs, distorted strings, and synths, giving way to uptempo, hard-hitting bassy drums, and shredding guitar riffs.
This powerful intro is all the more impressive with Jin Ogasawara’s powerful screamo, leading the song to the first verse, kicking the doors open to what is one of the best songs released so far in 2023.
The guitars are violent, the bassline thunderous while the drums feel like they hit your soul. The mixing is wonderfully done, putting the listener in the scene, enjoying everything occurring around them.
When the chorus arrives you will be surprised by how good it is.
The chorus is intense and incredibly groovy lending influences from groove metal while adding a layer of beauty from classical music with its delicate piano melodies in the background.
When the 2nd verse kicks in, trap music takes its entrance, slowing down the song and further darkening the soundscape around you. At the same time, all vocals for a brief rapping part before going to yet another chorus leading up to the bridge.
The bridge brings back those glitchy synths and distorted basslines before Ogasawara’s screamo part. The 2nd part of the bridge is quieter, giving the stage back to the vocals.
And speaking of vocals, we have a trio leading the way for this project.
Masaaki Mizunaka, Jin Ogasawara and Shunichi Toki are something else on the vocal end. All screamo is performed by Jin Ogasawara who also dabbles in clean singing and rapping.
At the same time, Masaaki Mizunaka has an unbelievable performance filled with power while showcasing a lot of control both in his clean singing and rapping.
Another surprise in this group is Shunichi Toki who absolutely goes for a powerful performance while adding a well-needed layer of beauty with his clear vocals, higher range, and control.
When this song wraps up and if you are a fan of visual-kei rock like myself, you will be wanting more and more from this project, easily the most exciting in the visual-kei rock genre to debut in the last 5 years.
What a banger this is! I have big hopes for this project, especially after such an impressive debut song, so here’s to hoping Executioner manages to catch the attention of many.
Looking forward to hearing much, much more from this project and its 3 bands.
“V-kei Sentai Executioner” is available for streaming on Spotify.
Do not support piracy. Remember to support the Executioner franchise by streaming via official outlets.