Being a huge Versailles fan will of course get you more excited about this album, but if you're a fan of symphonic or power metal in general it's worth a listen.A week's already passed since I first listened to this entire album in full, and though I've changed my mind about a few tracks, as a whole my feelings for their major debut haven't gone through any major revisions. GOD PALACE is still my favorite track in the album, I love the tempo and the timing of their musical switch ups, though I'm no longer as enthusiastic about it as I was. When the album first came out I was convinced that they'd managed to top NOBLE's "Aristocrat's Symphony", though now I'm not so sure. While GOD PALACE is epic in length and content, "Symphony" managed to condense the same amount of "epic" in a five minute package. One thing's certain, though, and that's that GOD PALACE is considerably more rewarding on repeated listens, and that's probably why it's been getting the full workout in my playlist.
Amorphous is a track that surprised me, being non-metal and almost certainly one of the most "un-Versailles" tracks in the album. It's beautifully arranged though, and the solo on it is fantastic. It may or may not be what Versailles' fans were worried would happen after signing to a major label, but this is the kind of evolution that Versailles needs. Similar to "Sympathia" in that it opens with an immediately memorable passage, though this time performed by a solo violinist in stead of HIZAKI's electric axe. Fantastically arranged, though the wave of new fans that it garners will probably spark another of those annoying "old fans versus new fans" debates that gets on everyone's nerves.
Rosen Schwert is still absolute garbage, though for many fans it became an instant favorite. I hate this will all my heart, and it's not as if I didn't try to love it. From the start it's such generic J-Rock vomit that I refuse to believe it wasn't somehow forced into the album by major label executives. Imagine my dismay when I discovered that KAMIJO had both written the music and penned the lyrics to the track. This is the same drivel that made Lareine's final album such a waste of time to me.
Serenade, god help me, has grown on me. While incredibly sappy -- KAMIJO's overacting in the recording studio again -- the arrangement is solid, the cello and violin are a nice touch as well. Quite similar to Episode in that it is a vocal heavy piece (everyone but KAMIJO is basically sitting on their asses for half the song), though Episode has a nicer melody, but sparser arrangement. I'm still unsure as to which I prefer.
I was a bit disappointed to find TERU had only written two tracks, his songwriting skills are better than HIZAKI's when it comes to balls-out speed/power/death/thrash tracks and as a soloist his guitar bits are usually more memorable than "Hime"'s. "aito Kanashimo Nocturne" is one of Versailles' greatest tracks EVER, just straightforward, pounding, driving speed/power metal with a great riff and even greater solos. "Reminiscence", the instrumental track, is catchy and easily whistleable (did I just make up a word?) though not as impressive as SILENT KNIGHT in composition and technicality.
An interesting note on production is that Versailles' rhythm section seems to have gotten a complete overhaul; whether this is related to Jasmine You's passing or not is up to speculation, but the bass and drums have never sounded better. In fact, YUKI outshines HIZAKI and TERU in many of the tracks. "Catharsis" and "aito Kanashimo Nocturne" being two of the clearest examples of this. In previous releases YUKI has been the under-appreciated backbone to the five-piece (now four-piece) but their newfound love for the rhythm section should foster a growth in his fanbase.
Better than NOBLE? Time will tell if any of the songs on Jubilee have the same staying power as Love for a Dead Orchestra or Red Carpet Day, but it's a welcome addition to the Versailles discography.
Like I said : certainly worth a listen for power/symphonic/speed metal fans and VK fans in general.
- Download: Mediafire
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