| CD REVIEW Screw |
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Band : Screw What with the current state of economics in the music business (which is mainly due to current day’s culture of music theft through illegal downloads), today’s record companies are sometimes compelled into holding off distribution of certain albums outside their own country, forced into making money off their releases before venturing abroad. I’m therefore glad German label CLJ, whom specialize in Visual Kei (Japanese blending of styles combined with a “romantic” look),eventually decided to have Screw’s new album out elsewhere in Europe as well. The band was started by former Joker membersByo (vocals) and Yiuto (bass) in March 2006, and soon after they were joined by Clover guitarist Kazuki and drummer Jin from LiViNg DEAd. With experienced musicians in the band, they started off proceedings by playing secret gigs, and held their first official gig on April 23! Meanwhile, studio activity had already started, and the band released their debut mini-album Nanairo no Reienka (limited to a 2,000 copy release) in July! Followed more concerts, and no less than 3 more maxi-singles, all released that same year, before the band signed off in 2006, playing at the Winter Romantic Festival. Opening 2007 with a string of gigs, the band released their full-length album Fusion Of The Core in March, and started their Limited Fusion one-band headline tour of Japan. Then the band left Speed Disc Records (a rather small independent label) for somewhat bigger Indie imprint PSC, and changed session guitarist Manabu’s status to a permanent membership. Never ceasing their live activities throughout Summer, Screw managed to find time in a studio, releasing the mini-albums Venom and Virus in the Fall, with a one-month interval. 2007 was rounded off with the band’s first overseas in Germany! Onto 2008, which started with several shows in January, continued with the release of a new maxi-single in February, and the celebration of the band’s second anniversary at Takandanobaba Area, where they had their very first gig. The rest of the year stayed equally as active, with a steady stream of concerts and the release of two more singles. On April 26, 2009 the band had their 3rd anniversary bash, and in August they signed to CLJ Records fordistribution of their future records in Europe…the first result of which we’re now talking about. Musically speaking, the band brings a wacky mixture of Death Metal and Pop, alternating aggressive passages with both grunted and screamed vocals (increddibly high sometimes, those screams…say squeels) with calmer ones where lead and backing singer alike go into clean mode. Most of the song titles are in English, but if indeed any lyrics are in that language, I have yet to discover where! Which is quite all right by me, because if there’s anything I like better than the usual English/ Japanese lyrics/ vocals we usually find in Visual Kei music, it’s when you can’t make out a word at all! Somehow, that upholds the Asian mysticism even more! Hey, tallking about Visual Kei…you may know that bands in that genre either dress up quite elaborately (including face masks and feathers), or take on a simpler look with freaky hairdoe and make-up. One might say it’s all a bit efeminate, but I asure you there’s nothing frail about this band’s music, even if they’re part of the Romantic Metal scene in their country! At myspace.com/screwjp, you will not find material off the new album, but there’s a total of 6 older songs, all very representative for the band at any rate! Personally, I love this (hence the high notation and inclusion of the album in my 2009 year-lists), and I have to say this definitely tastes like something I want more of …how about you? 98/100 Tony. |