Review: NoGoD - Rashinban

*cracks knuckles*

Now I don't really need an explanation for my extended absence but I believe I owe you one anyway. The excuse is simple: college. Being a physics major + being completely out of my league = tons of catch-up. I also spent the time trying to figure out a way to circumvent the gods of computing at this school and then there was also just general laziness in updating overall.

But I told myself I would do a review on the 23rd for one reason: NoGoD. They're really the reason why I started my first blog and a lack of releases stopped me then. Their new release, Rashinban, is going to lead off this review spree. In the following days I'm also going to cover UnsraW's REBORN, Administrator's A, ScReW's X-RAYS, -OZ-'s VERSUS, Nega's Lover (unplugged), and Lycaon's Cordyceps Sinensis.

NoGoD - Rashinban

I had really mixed anticipations for this release. I doubted they'd ever return to the epicness of the Kanna Fukyou / Mugen Kyou period but I didn't think it would be as bad as the time where we waited for the release of Gokusaishiki to come out. My initial predictions were pretty much true since this EP is split pretty neatly between really commercial, generic pop-rock shit and then badass metal and it all lacks any sort of cohesion.

If you had any doubts about which way this EP was going to go Jigokuchou doesn't give you an accurate representation of what's in store. For one, it's actually pretty damn sweet and minus a slightly lacking chorus the entire drive, energy, and passion that every member puts into this release could make you think that all the songs on this album would be like this. Jigokuchou is full of so many ideas, from chopped up sections to single guitar strumming to a chorus that I like (even if it's lacking) and all of this comes together in a package that I'd actually say I'd put up there with Tsumibatsu Egoist and Saikou no Sekai. However, it is precisely all these ideas that fuck over Rashinban in the end. An EP is a band's way of saying they don't have enough new material to warrant a whole new album but they still have some ideas that they want to present to their listeners. When you use up most of your good ideas in track one, and track two is basically a re-recorded version of a released song you don't give me much hope.

Short and sweet point: Jigokuchou is awesome.

Mr.HEAVEN is pretty much the same it was on the single last month but it feels remastered and has a few neat passages. Guitar lines are redone and restrained and K fits in perfectly like he did before but he's not the primary force behind the song. I like the return to the beginning after the solo and everyone seems more balanced. I even think Karin redid the lame basslines from before so it's still enjoyable, even if it feels less infectious from before.

Hachigatsu Sakujitsu stops the Rashinban train for a little bit as it tries to come off as a failed attempt at a ballad. If you want a good NoGoD ballad find Kono Sekai ni Mihanasaretemo or Rinne Tenshou. Hell, I'll even throw in Yakusoku no Chi in there because even that had more going than this track. Hachigatsu lacks the NoGoD touch and might take a few listens to grow on me. Definitely not addictive at all.

Hakoniwa doesn't bring it back right at ALL. It's another poppy track but it feels commercial and not at all like NoGoD. Once again, NoGoD's done this type of track before (Yuiitsu Ka, Nanairo) and they've done it so much better while keeping the attitude. I don't mind IF they do pop-rock, just as long as they do it the NoGoD way. Hakoniwa is going to be one of those Shirasagi-esque tracks that's good for mild listening but if you need a NoGoD fix it's not going to satisfy you at all.

I wanted to SHOOT myself listening to Kalmia. The choir ooh's and aah's, the forceful beginning reminiscent of MUCC's Flight, the cringe-worthy chorus that makes me want to neuter my reviewing self, the overall blandness in putting things together...this is not the NoGoD I want to hear. Hell, this isn't NoGoD and the fact that this comes after Ring-a Ring-o only exacerbates the problem of "you don't fucking fit" and "you don't fucking belong". NoGoD can pull off hard and soft and poppy songs well but this isn't one of them and the fact that it ENDS off Rashinban doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. I would have been fine with just five tracks guys.

You probably noticed I skipped Ring-a Ring-o. That's because the song is too epic for words. The name sounds like a fun and silly song but it's far FAR away from any of that nonsense. Far and away the best song here, I felt that actually describing why it was good doesn't work in this instance. Take my word for it - you actually NEED to listen to this track if you're going to pick up Rashinban because this makes the EP.

So in conclusion, this is basically what Mr.HEAVEN should have been last month. It could have even been the new "Batsu" - Ring-a Ring-o as the A side with Mr.HEAVEN and Jigokuchou being the respectable B-sides - but it ended up becoming bloated with so-so tracks that drag down the EP as a whole. NoGoD's trying to show us they can do more than metal but frankly I don't give a damn. You're good at what it is you do and some things you just can't pull off so what they need to do is go back to the drawing board and figure out why songs like Ring-a Ring-o work and others like Kalmia just don't.

You can either sound the part or you can play the part. Rashinban is sounding the part and it's not measuring up. In actuality, the only track I recommend you skip is Kalmia but I feel tracks three and four weren't up to par. It doesn't scratch Gokusaishiki or Mugen Kyou and is way inferior to Kanna Fukyou but it's a lot better than Ao no Daichi or Midori no Kaze. It isn't their best work and it isn't going to rock your world but it's worth picking up if not for the metal monsters they offer here.