ŹOOĻ makes a statement with “NEVER LOSE, MY RULE”, a disruptive rock tune that leaves you wanting more music in the same style.
As a reference:
ŹOOĻ consists of Touma (CV: Subaru Kimura), Haruka (CV: Yuya Hirose), Torao (CV: Takashi Kondo) and Minami (CV: Koutaro Nishiyama).
Title: NEVER LOSE, MY RULE Release date: 31/08/2022 Label: Lantis Genre: Rock
Tracklist:
1 - NEVER LOSE, MY RULE
Track by track analysis:
1 – NEVER LOSE, MY RULE
ZOOL welcomes the listener to a dramatic, almost dystopian soundscape. Atmospheric synths and slow-paced, almost quiet guitar riffs share the stage, slowly taking the listener to the first verse.
The tone is dramatic in that intro however, for the verses, it sort of has an intense, confident vibe that completely puts that aside. Your full focus is on the disruptive synths and heavy guitar riffs and drums.
After listening to this song more than a couple of times I can say that the verses are actually the weakest part of this song. While there are interesting things happening both on the vocals and instrumental, things only sound “complete” or “on the same page” when it comes to the chorus, the shining star of this song.
If you are a fan of ZOOL’s most recent sound – and not so much this throwback to the group’s original rock sound -, don’t worry, there is an interesting mix of hip-hop and pop going on in the instrumental. The pop influences are quite noticeable in the lyrics and vocal direction whereas the hip-hop nods arrive – mainly – through Touma’s (CV: Subaru Kimura) parts.
You can also say, in a way, that you can notice hip-hop influences in the bridge, time when the group members take turns in rapping to the instrumental, then, quiet and groovier.
When the chorus kicks in, ZOOL shines however, this is not necessarily due to the instrumental. While the instrumental is heavy, the guitars are screaming and the drums are relentless on the snare and bass drum, it’s the vocals that arrive to make the big “WOW” moment in this song.
If rock is your thing, then the intermission between the first chorus and 2nd verse will be a treat, going low and hard on the drums and guitars, creating a dark and heavy sound that has glimpses of metal in there.
The unison crescendo in tension leading up to a head voice part and then that powerful follow-up in such a dramatic fashion on the vocal end… That’s a treat right there. ZOOL does have the lineup to impress and in this song, they really went for it, pairing it up with one of the coolest mashups of rock and pop they’ve brought forward.
And changing things around, “NEVER LOSE, MY RULE” counts with an awesome outro that comes full circle, wrapping up this song in style.
In a way, “NEVER LOSE, MY RULE” sounds like a heroic type of song, it does have the makings of an anisong tune, bringing a lot of energy in such a compact, heavy and intense rock tune. And it counts with a strong performance by a group that, more than ever, is on the same page on the vocal end.
ZOOL makes a statement with “NEVER LOSE, MY RULE”, a disruptive rock tune that leaves you wanting more music in the same style.
“NEVER LOSE, MY RULE” is available for streaming on Spotify.
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