Thanks for posting. For me personally I didn’t find the chorus that memorable but everything else was fine/good. The pv was also a bit fun with some crazy AI stuff and it actually looks that they put some time into it. Its a shame they don’t upload in 4k so we can see it more clear, at 1080 it becomess muddy. Well anyway, team Kyo (who keeps dropping terrible AI videos) could learn from this…
But again, sadly the song isn’t epic enough to match the epicness of the PV imo. Just why couldn’t they come up with some more catchy melody/chorus for this title track of their first “last album”?
For me it feels like there are two choruses in this song — the first one is a bit simple for them, but the second one is amazing.
The album is coming out at the end of the year, and I don’t know if the previously released songs will be included, but I’m sure there will be a new one to introduce the album.
Thanks for replying!
I need to listen to it more then and see if it grows, i just feel that they have no real catchy melody/refrain/chorus or whatever you call it, like it doesn’t click. Maybe I am completely alone about this?
But i hope it grows
KIZU’s R/E/D/ is filled with admiration as references in the lyrics for senior VK bands namely X JAPAN, DIR EN GREY, MUCC, Girugamesh, and probably some more.
Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. For as much as people rag on lynch. for sounding the same, Kizu can be lumped in that box too. I haven’t heard everything they’ve done, but I’ve sampled a few singles and am confident in saying that Lime has a static sound. I’ll go even further and say it’s a consequence of being the only composer in the band. They’re above average to me, but I haven’t heard a song yet that compels me to listen to more. 0 and Mr. BIG MONSTER come close.
If you actually wanna be surprised, know that I own Kataki on vinyl for the flex. I don’t even like the album, but I know this band is at the top of the scene right now, and I needed something from them. And this band has had a marked effect on their contemporaries - everyone’s begun adding a bit of the Kizu sound to their sound too! So when it does click, I’ll be glad I have it.
I’m not sure if RED is that song though. I listened to the song once and the energy live was undeniable, but I need to listen to a song several times before I get an opinion of it. Then there’s this music video that’s got AI all over it and I absolutely hate it. Look at this screenshot below. 191 degrees? F or C, we’re all dead!
I know AI’s not going anywhere but can we tastefully apply it? I can understand why bands want to use it to save a buck but this is embarrassing and looks bad.
Now if I can look past the visuals for a bit, I really enjoy all the shots with the band in the PV and I think the studio version sounds cleaner and fuller than what I was listening to before. The rapping sections are ok but the chorus is fire. I enjoy how this has a stadium rock feel to it in the later half. I hope this one ends up on their “first last album” when it comes out later this year. Maybe it will feel complete in context.
I understand that people perceive things very differently, and I’ve heard the “all their songs sound the same” argument made about pretty much every band, but Kizu is the last band that deserves that.
They have a recognizable sound — and I think that’s a good thing — but their compositions are incredibly diverse, something I can’t say about most visual kei bands.
When I first started listening to them, I was honestly amazed at how vivid and varied their songs are — completely different motifs, harmonies, each track has its own distinct character. Even the styles across their songs differ significantly.
I was surprised to know they only have one composer.
Strongly disagree with both ideas. Kizu has a flatness problem that isn’t as prevalent in other bands and Im shocked they’ve been able to retain attention as much as they have for their skill and production level.
I’m talking about the variety in their compositions, which is what most people are actually interested in, not everyone is picky about production quality.
That said, I do know the opinions of several musicians and arrangers who have specifically pointed out how solid Kizu’s sound and production are.
Some people think Dir en grey has bad production, and that doesn’t stop them from being popular either.
So in most cases, I think this kind of judgment is way too subjective. Unlike their melodic lines, harmonies, tonality, and rhythm — which are objectively varied.
They definitely try to add variation into their discography. But they are not able to actually add anything new to their regular style they just do a completely unrelated one to that.
They usual a-sides are pretty generic
So you’re saying Jigoku, SB, LGWY, Oni… all sound similar? That’s beyond me.
I get that some people focus more on arrangements than compositions themselves,
but in their case, it’s hard not to hear the fundamental differences.
And comparing that to lynch., who honestly have tons of variations of essentially the same song…
A lot of my favorite artists have songs that sound pretty similar, and that’s okay, but I can’t say that about Kizu.
I said Lime has a static sound. All his music has his signature trademark sound all over it, which includes his lovely, powerful voice. It’s not a bad thing unless you want it to be. For many bands, consistency is their biggest strength. Kizu has consistency too. But like I said, I haven’t heard everything so I’ve got a ways to go.
This was something i left out of my review, but I have always wondered (and recently had confirmed) that Lime had no plans of doing a full album with Kizu until recently. Kizu has always been a band I’ve sampled a few tracks at a time. I can’t do long listening sessions with them for some reason. Hopefully the upcoming album has enough variety while also keeping the quality where it’s been. I think that was one of his main concerns behind not penning an album up to this point.
This happens to me too but I know the reason. It’s too intense for me and it becomes physically tiring to listen to the same guy doing the same thing when everything is so loud.
I like listening to them when i’m in that specific mood. It’s not a band i reach for when I’m in a good mood.
I’ve listened to everything and to me everything after Strawberry Blue is mid.
R/E/D is pretty mid to me as well but people seem to like it. I think the lyrics are very gimmicky, it has none of the raw emotion or depth in the Kataki songs.
basically, we all have to say that Kizu and Lime are the best band ever, or Jane will flip her shit
R/E/D is not my favorite song. I think they have much better songs.
But overall I am more with @JaneLK
When I first heard about them I though “Man sound overrated. What’s it with that Lime guy?”
So I was kinda biased against them but they still won me over and I can listen to them for ours. Even to 3 song ep on repeat😅
Man, i loooooove Kizu, but they’re just Girugamesh Jr, and i love that for them. The singles after Strawberry Blue are definitely weaker (although Ame Otoko is fucking phenomenal track), but yeah, Kizu is not for everyone!
R/E/D/ admittedly took a long while to grow on me since the lyric video dropped in January. I dig it now, but its not my favorite.
