Soshi Kagurazaka’s “Overjoy -Kyoukiranbu-” is a masterclass on what a rock performance should be like with a powerful instrumental and mindblowing control on the vocals.
Titled あの頃の僕らは My Dear Days. (Ano Koro no Bokura wa My Dear Days.), the new CD series has all members of SQ (SolidS and QUELL) and ALIVE (SOARA and Growth) revisiting their old selves.
Title: Overjoy -狂喜乱舞- (Overjoy -Kyoukiranbu-)
Release date: 30/12/2022
Label: Movic
Genre: Rock
Tracklist:
1 - Overjoy -狂喜乱舞- 2 - Overjoy -狂喜乱舞- -off vocal-
Track analysis:
1 – Overjoy -狂喜乱舞-
Soshi opens the doors to this solo single with “Overjoy -Kyoukiranbu-“, song that brings to the spotlight a heavier brand of rock music – a sound you’ll not find in SOARA’s music.
The song focuses heavily on the drums – Soshi’s instrument -, bringing to the forefront a slow-paced beat that hits hard and goes quite deep in the bass range (bass drum and toms).
The verses bring dissonant guitar riffs, with two guitars – each placed on different sides in the soundscape – screaming and blasting their way forward.
In the background, a punchy bassline adds to the heavy tone to the song while keeping the instrumental fairly groovy.
Vocally, this is – easily – one of Makoto Furukawa’s performances in the Tsukipro franchise. The way he plays around with falsetto, how he rises his tone and volume, the control over his vibrato and the power he unleashes will keep you glued to this song.
The chorus is explosive – without cranking up the speed – yet with a “final”, dramatic undertone to it. This was not the song I was expecting from a SOARA member but oh boy, this was everything I wanted and more, especially with Makoto Furukawa on vocals and rock music in the mix.
Pay special attention to how Furukawa tackles the chorus, in which he shows how much control he now has on his vibrato output.
He now uses it sparingly to add drama, accentuate parts in a performance or, in the case of this performance, crank up the tension to the max. And when he brings that falsetto with a bit of vibrato in its tail?
Pure bliss of a performance. Especially in the last chorus, ending up as the perfect climax to a flawless performance.
“Overjoy -Kyoukiranbu-“ is a masterclass on what Soshi can bring to SOARA’s songs – should he get more of a spotlight in the band – as well as a good showcase of Makoto Furukawa’s talents when it comes to performing shredding rock music.
Outstanding entry that shows just how much talent SOARA has in its ranks as well as brings a different rock sound to the spotlight.
It goes darker and is more aggressive and intense than anything the band released so far or even that Soshi has performed before. And it suits Soshi like a glove.
“Overjoy -Kyoukiranbu-” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
