The new EP is available to streaming services and to buy on OTOTOY
Well I must admit it’s not their best release overall.
But imo at least the only « weak » track here is Madara (even if there is an interesting guitar part).
I really enjoyed the rest, the highlight is probably the 2 last songs, A fierce blaze and -should I be surprised from Yusuke- Remains.
Seriously let him cook a full album, even if I like the classic uptempo lynch, Yusuke one’s are just always the most « complex » interesting, beautiful and deepest songs from them.
1 Like
Yep, ysk always been a great composer, even back in HYBRID-ZOMBIEZ. Unfortunately, he ended up in lynch… About FIERCE, I still can’t stand Hazuki’s voice nowadays. Sure there are here and there new things to grab, and that one is a strong release, but not something memorable. I miss the old days.
So far it seems like another totally enjoyable but ultimately forgettable release, so par for the course. It does have its moments tho, and there’s nothing that I outright dislike about it (just the same ol’ same ol’ style).
6 Likes
yup, sounds exactly like any other lynch release from the past 10 years 
1 Like
Couldn’t have been a better tagline for a lynch. release.
REMAINS was pleasant and surprising considering the rest of the tracks.
4 Likes
Best way I’d describe lynch’s music is “inoffensive”. It’s conventional pop metal that doesn’t expect any deep engagement from its audience. It’s the GazettE only more bland.
The music lacks even a singular moment when it’s elevated into something more special or memorable. It exists solely to take up space on the internet, and that’s about it.
3/10 because it’s short and the performances are competent.
3 Likes
I fuck with tracks 3 and 4.
2 Likes
I would say its the choruses, Hizaki sounds the same in all of them.
1 Like
Welp.
FIERCE-EP
- UN DEUX TROIS - Kicks in pretty fun… but why did I remember CREATURE almost instantly? Poppy chorus, very usual of them. Verses are fun & stuff, so, I imagine this song will be cool to hear live. Some nice screams, huh o_O Color me surprised. Oh, and here’s that clean guitar effect that they’re using for a long ass time (I recall it from Avantgarde’s EVIDENCE). Good way to finish the song, but god damn this chorus is so poppy.
- EXCENTRIC - ey, we got a seamless transition, points for that. YO WAZZUP, Y SONG SO DISJOINTED. So, boys. Pls, let someone else to write choruses.
- Madara - Fuckable. Definitely like them going for more energetic stuff in this EP. YO THAT SOLO IS JUICY STEAK. First thing in this EP that made me WOAH.
- A FIERCE BLAZE - wowsodeepintro. Ey, that’s like if they went DOGMA… for that intro, at least. Then it’s the same rapid-fire fun, alright. Oh shit, comprehensible English. Despite having three very distinct moods, A FIERCE BLAZE doesn’t feel stitched together, thankfully.
- REMAINS - Oh shit, pretty FIERCE for a Yusuke song. That intro gave me action fantasy vibes for some reason (maybe due to how guitars sound). 2nd part of that chorus is very magical as well, and also makes me miss DECAYS, yep. Oh damn, we’re having very build-upy instrumental portion that leads… to the chorus, sure. Still, it was nice while it lasted.
Honestly? Without EXCENTRIC this EP is pretty nice! If we’re comparing to REBORN, this one feels more energetic and live-oriented. Gonna be listening to Madara and REMAINS on repeat.
5 Likes
That solo was a nice surprise for me, too. I’ll take stuff like that over your typical breakdown any day.
I also agree about the general energy of the EP being great. It’s too bad that their songwriting is in such a deadlock, but I got two tracks that I can add to my playlists out of this, so I’m not complaining.
2 Likes
That was my first impression when hearing the EP as well 
1 Like
Crazy this is the same band that wrote greedy dead souls - i’d love to hear more of that songwriting style again.
9 Likes
I am not a frequent lynch listener and I have no expectations whatsoever, so that might be working to my advantage here, but I find this EP to be a fun 20 minute blast with a cool closer. Remains has some seriously cool synth pads going on.
6 Likes
lynch. is like a Happy Meal. You don’t get a Happy Meal when you’re expecting fine dining, and when you get one you know exactly what to expect. So on some level, I don’t want lynch. to deviate too much from their core sound or else I might no longer recognize them as the same band I’ve been following for so long. I think I’m comfortable with this amount of different.
The band doesn’t sound as tired as they did on their GALLOWS-AVANTGARDE run. Everyone pitching in for contributions does help to freshen some things up. I also believe the EP format is perfect for lynch because it allows them to not overstay their welcome.
I’m gonna need some time to see if this is merely a pleasant listen I don’t return to (REBORN) or something with more staying power.
EDIT: REMAINS fucks. That song is great. Best song on the EP.
17 Likes
Completely agree with what Zeus said. I think minis are a good format for them. I enjoy the ‘typical’ lynch sound and feel this release has an energy to it that was lacking with some of the last releases.
4 Likes
Going off Zeus’s analogy of a happy meal, this is just this year’s new burger that swaps out the buns for something different. Maybe they change what kind of cheese they’re using, but the rest is largely the same.
Except for Remains. This is the most competent song they’ve put out since their D.A.R.K. album (for me anyways). It is well constructed and flows smoothly, sonically it sounds pretty fresh compared to their usual output, and all the member’s parts fit together harmoniously. Granted, I only passively listened to each new release since D.A.R.K. But truthfully, hardly anything has caught my attention in the same way Remains did on a first listen.
I share the same sentiments with @Baroque that Hazuki is largely a contributing factor to the band’s repetitive sound. Unfairly so, since the other members bring in their own weaknesses as well, but his voice is the part that stands out most being that human element. I think the biggest part of this is that he sings every song in nearly the same octave and hardly dips into the lower range. Remains made that fact very clear for me. His vocal melodies in the track are lower and, because of that, you get a sense of variety. The melodies he’s singing in general lack catchiness so it’s not only the octave to blame.
But he used to mix both high and low octaves resulting in some nice contrast in his performaces. On this EP he’s aiming soley for the heavens. I also think his strongest quality is his lower voice as there’s a rich deep timbre that is so distinctly him, so think he should be utilizing it more. The guy’s got great range and he should flaunt it!
7 Likes
in my mind i’ve always separated their albums into ‘tryhard lynch’ & ‘coasting lynch’
‘coasting’ is the worst word i’ll put on them bc even my least favs are far from unenjoyable…
but i see it like…
tryhard: greedy dead souls, avoided sun, inferiority complex, avantgarde, sinners
coasting: the buried, shadows, i believe in me, anathema, gallows, dark, XIII, ultima
1 Like
Haven’t heard this yet as I’m waiting for my copy, but I would agree that Hazuki is best when he reaches down low and uses his deep, haunting voice. No one else has a voice like him and I do wish he utilized it more.
3 Likes