REVIEWS

Buy this album from Amazon.co.jp

Harshrealm
[Harshrealm/Strange Days]

Arena Records

Posted: Monday, April 10, 2006
By: Ilker Yucel
Editor

Based on the strength of this, their debut single, the Japanese outfit Harshrealm has much to offer to the world of modern music. Their title song is as brutal as it is beautiful, introducing the listener into their twisted musical space with powerful guitar riffs amidst scathing synthesizers, with a mid-tempo beat pumping out one hell of an aggressive song, underplayed only by Harshrealm leader FINN’s sensuous and reserved vocals. Despite his restrained tone, his vocals meld perfectly with the song. The chorus is the absolute high point of the song, truly exemplifying the band’s juxtaposition of harsh industrial and melodic tones to create a sound that is sheer sonic bliss. The track ends amidst a mélange of discordant synths and off-tempo piano lines before leading into “Strange Days.” The vocals are much more forceful on this track, matching that of the music for a sound that is slightly more expected, but no less enticing. The track hits hard like a bullet with its faster pace and punches of edgy synth programming; throw in some chugging guitar power chords, and you have another song that could fill the dance floors as easily as it could the mosh pits. Razed in Black’s remix, re-titled “I Could Be You,” fills out the single with what could be construed as a typical RiB track, full of throbbing techno beats and trancelike synths. Interesting to note about this track’s title is the fact that the actual lyric is “I wish I could believe you,” pointing out the one shortcoming of Harshrealm’s sound: the thick Japanese accent singing in English, which is not unusual, but can be a detriment to English-speaking audiences who like to understand the words. However, the strength of FINN’s vocal tone is enough to pass this off and enjoy the music on its own merits… and Harshrealm’s music does indeed have merit. With a full-length album on the way in ‘06, this leadoff single is an excellent test-taster for what is sure to be an amazing album.