Review: exist†trace - VANGUARD - of the muses -

I remember how I discovered this band fondly. I was in a musical slump and was browsing through JaME to find some new bands that I could get into. I asked a friend to pick a random letter and she picked E. I scroll through them all and see this band at the bottom, and the cross in the middle of their name interested me enough to click on it and read about them. A few minutes later I was downloading Annunciation - the heretic elegy onto my computer.

I mention that because the first thing I've ever heard by these girls (yes girls, not guys) does not resemble anything that's on this EP. exist†trace managed to do something most bands can't do successfully in this musical age: redefine their music and sound even better. They had a long way to go as well since they sounded like a female D'espairsRay clone dragged through some mud and poor production values before this release, and if I remember reading correctly this was their "comeback".

This is the best damn thing they've put out.

01. VANGUARD
02. ROUGE
03. Hana no Sakanai Machi
04. REQUIEM
05. ORLEANS no Shoujo
06. Lost in Helix

VANGUARD	VANGUARD is a definite step in the right direction. With more of an emphasis on the singing and instrumentation than normal, VANGUARD can be called less “goth metal” and more “alternative rock”. If you need more confirmation, Jyou doesn’t growl at all during this track even though she gets pretty close in some parts. Definitely more accessible than their earlier, darker works while retaining their signature sound. Toss in a shiny, new twin guitar sound and a judicious use of electronic effects and we have a solid opening track and not some shitty SE. Go exist†trace!	9/10
ROUGE	It isn’t as strong as the last track but it’s listenable. It sounds like they tried to blend their older style of rock with their new experimental sound and they didn’t know which way they wanted to go with it. It falters a bit in the last minute and a half with the sudden transition into lighter vocals for a bit before Jyou’s hellish vocals return. Speaking of those vocals, Jyou’s growls have evolved into roars and they sound pretty damn good alongside her singing. The fade out effect combines well with them and blends in well with the next track.	8/10
Hana no Sakanai Machi	The best damn song on this EP period, and one of my favorite exist†trace songs ever. Every aspect of this song is solid, from the evolving guitar lines to the electronic effects. The drums are at a perfect volume and keep the pace perfectly while changing speed at reasonable intervals (which is a big difference since Mari had a problem keeping time before). Jyou’s singing is brilliant and sits above the three guitarists who no longer play the same series of notes. Definitely a must listen.	10/10
Requiem	I have to say that this is an example of brilliant track placement. That beginning riff is a good contrast to the ending of the last track and it evolves into the two guitarists branching off into different directions while the bass keeps the rhythm flowing. exist†trace has also learned to balance soft with hard and quiet with loud. The middle of a track has a portion where it quiets considerably which isn’t a usual aspect of older, harder exist†trace tracks. A solid, hard rock track with a memorable chorus and an ending that is hard to forget.	8/10
ORLEANS no Shoujo	It features some more twin guitar work supported by thick bass and frantic drums and it’s all very pleasant but the only member that doesn’t seem to be holding anything back is Jyou. Her singing is bold and decisive which is a good contrast to the guitars, which alternate between melodic notes and killer riffs and sound mostly confused as to what it wants to be. The transitions are great though and the riffs work to a great extent so I’ll be nice.	9/10
Lost in Helix	Extremely underrated. A typical end-of-EP ballad that sounds totally different from the five tracks that preceded it, which works against it in the scope of the album as a whole. Perhaps it’s because Jyou’s singing is less pronounced and more delicate. Maybe it’s because the drums are toned down and the guitars stick with a lighter melody throughout. It could just be that there’s no growling. It works better as a stand-alone track. My only complaint is that it feels too short and I wanted some more.	8/10

And there we have it. With the best production value out of any CD thus far in their careers combined with a much-needed change in style, exist†trace has proved to me at least that they're not a one-trick pony. Every track is enjoyable on this release, which is a rare thing in an exist†trace CD because there's almost always one track that I feel the need to skip. Get it.

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