#japanesenumetal

[liliasmusicmonday]

Eid Mubarak friends! I hope those of you who practice Ramadan had a pleasant March. I have the perfect meal for you all to break your fast tonight, a shoegaze metal fruit basket, khee hee!

“World’s End Fruit Basket” is the second release by Japanese nu-metal band Ikd-sj and released October 17, 2009! Ikd-sj formed in Tokyo in 2003 and has been consistently making incredible music since, all while being independent from any label.

Despite being labeled as nu-metal, this album has such a unique sound and feel to it I feel like calling it nu-metal doesn���t give justice to all the different influences. With strong inspiration of post rock, shoegaze, groove metal, and most of all nu-metal, “World’s End Fruit Basket” stands out from any other album I’ve ever listened to. With many songs being dark, gloomy, and incredibly emotional such as “Lemon Lumpen”, to others hitting like freight trains with incredible heavy and groovy instrumentals like “Fullemetal Gunslinger” sne “Иine Inch K n ife”, and some strange yet enjoyable tracks like “Brigade I.K.D.” AND ones that are a beautiful mix of all of these, like “OddeyE”. I am a big fan of Akira Ogiishi’s vocals all throughout this album, even without understanding what he is saying he is able to convey the songs mood with his tone alone. For me though, absolutely highlight of it for me would have to be the phenomenal bass on every song, both hitting incredibly hard while providing an addicting groove. For lack of a better simile, the bass on each song feels like it could send you flying through multiple concrete walls! The brilliant bass and drums paired with the heavy guitar all tied together with Ogiishi’s fast paced singing all make this a perfect album in my opinion. Even the parts of this album I don’t like as much are integral for the dark and angry feel of this album, and I absolutely adore that.

It’s hard to choose a favorite song off this album as I genuinely think there are multiple songs here that are flawless. I want to choose “Fullmetal Gunslinger” for how unbelievably grooving it is and how fun it is to dance along with, but I also want to choose “Lemon Lumpen” for how beautiful and melodic all nine minutes are. I decided my favorite song off this album is “OddeyE”, since I think it is the perfect mixture of everything great about this album. My least favorite song is the opening track, since it’s a mood setting ambiance. With all this, I think this album is a 10 out of 10!

What do you think about this album? I’d love to know! Please recommend me music you’d like me to review in the future, khee hee!~ See you next Monday!