JET RAT FURY’s “Independent” shows (2)you (CV: Natsuki Hanae) battling his demons and insecurity in a powerfully raw and passionate CD.
The Dear Vocalist cast counts with RE-O-DO (Toshiki Masuda), Joshua (Nobunaga Shimazaki), Judah (Soma Saito), A’ (Ryohei Kimura), Momochi (Toshiyuki Toyonaga), and (2)YOU (Natsuki Hanae).
JET RAT FURY is fronted by (2)you (CV: Natsuki Hanae).
Title: Dear Vocalist Unlimited Entry No.4 JET RAT FURY Label: Rejet Release date: 26/10/2022 Genre: Rock / Pop-punk / Acoustic Rock
Tracklist:
1 - INDEPENDENT (NEW SONG) 2 - far away (NEW SONG) 3 - Relationships of ××× 4 - Start with tuning 5 - ONE DAY
Track by track analysis:
1 – INDEPENDENT
“INDEPENDENT” kicks off with subdued guitar riffs in a quiet soundscape, letting (2)you take over the stage. Soon, guitars explode, going loud as the bassline punches its way through the instrumental as pounding snary drums lead the way.
The song has a unique song structure, with its first chorus being extremely brief and the second chorus being nothing alike it in terms of tone or length. There is chaos and aggression going on in the loudest moments in this song but those are countered by the quiet parts in the bridge and intro, showcasing a character undergoing an internal conflict.
On the vocal end, and matching both the aggression and intensity of the instrumental, is Natsuki Hanae. He goes for a powerful performance that is borderline screaming but never really gets there, teasing you into thinking that will happen anytime.
There is a raspy twist to his performance, something that allied to the instrumental, makes “INDEPENDENT” sound all the more violent than expected.
As it is, “INDEPENDENT” is a banger, the heaviest song so far in (2)you’s repertoire.
2 – far away
Wrapping up this release is “far away”, song that brings a semi-acoustic rock sound to the spotlight. Acoustic guitars share the stage with electric ones, a beautiful piano, and slow yet hard-hitting snary drums (the warm, full snare sound and tuning for this song are a treat).
The verses are gentle and passionate, with Natsuki Hanae’s vocals gliding through the hopeful instrumental in ways you didn’t know were possible as (2)you.
The instrumental is warm, creating a soundscape akin to that of a campfire given how intimate it sounds like. When the chorus kicks in, dynamics change and the piano goes warm and bright, creating more spacing in the instrumental for (2)you to get up and take the center stage and declare his love for his significant other.
And the bridge in this song? Pure bliss as twin acoustic guitars take the spotlight for themselves delivering an emotional solo.
As far as the vocals go, Natsuki Hanae goes the extra mile toward making everything smooth and sweet. The love and care he carries in his vocals are magnetic, leaving quite a big impression as the song wraps up.
Final considerations
(2)you has started to open up his heart however not without some internal conflict. In “INDEPENDENT” (the song), there is a lot of aggression in the instrumental even if it has moments of peace and quiet in it. The constant shift between extreme aggression and peace shows a character battling his own doubts or demons and trying to find a way out.
When you go to “far away”, you find a song that completely strays away from the tone and style that (2)you’s JET RAT FURY has. The band is all about its gutsy rock sound is soft and gentle, even loving at times throughout this performance.
In “far away” you can feel unrestrained love, something that, up until now, wasn’t as clear for (2)you. That clearness gave way to a song that is dripping in honey. It feels intimate, almost like a lullaby while being a love declaration to his significant other. A massive highlight in this song – that is filled with those – is the twin acoustic guitar solo that caught me off guard with its beauty.
All in all, JET RAT FURY’s “Independent” is a surprisingly passionate entry in the UNLIMITED CD series, leaning more towards a softer edge even if aggression is used to mask his true feelings.
“Dear Vocalist Unlimited Entry No.4 JET RAT FURY” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
