PALEDUSK - PALEHELL (EP Review)
PALEDUSK – PALEHELL
Released: February 21st, 2024
Line Up:
Kaito Nagai // vocals
Daisuke 'DaiDai' Ehara // guitar
Tsubasa Ishibashi // guitar
BOB // drums
Online:
It's been some time since the Japanese maestros of chaotic metalcore dropped an extended-release. While the drip-feeding of singles over the past few years has been enough to keep the rabid Paledusk fans at bay, the demand for more has only been growing. Well, the wait is over and the PALEHELL EP is about to be unleashed into the world.
I say with all my heart, it has been worth the wait.
PALEHELL feels like the perfect introduction to those who are just dipping their toe into the Paledusk whirlpool. Both a culmination of their previous work and a step forward into a new era. Even if you are familiar with the band and some of the titles on the tracklisting, I recommend you do not get too comfy. If this isn’t your first rodeo with this band, then you should know by now to expect the unexpected.
[wpadcenter_ad id=177589 align='center']
To kick it all off is ‘I’m ready to die for my friends’- featuring Japanese rapper Vigorman which was released last April. I would be lying if I said I enjoyed this song straight away. After ten months and being able to hear it live a few times, it has found a space in my heart. The refrain is ridiculously catchy and makes for a solid opener. Honestly, it feels safe but not in a boring way. It takes your hand, pours you a drink and helps you strap in as you prepare for what’s to come. It also shows off Paledusk’s skill at blurring genres- reminding you to not come here looking for a typical metalcore band. Be prepared to find yourself on odd occasions singing the line “I’m ready to die for my friends”
As the little outro of the song plays, take a breath because you are about to hit ‘NO!’. This song originally appeared on their 2019 release Varied and has undergone a minor facelift. As it is a staple of their live shows, it makes sense that they have brought it up to their current standard. Especially when you factor in the line-up changes and their overall sonic evolution. Fast, furious and aggressive. It is a little more sample-reliant than the previous iteration, but again, that just makes it more 2024 Paledusk. In comparison to the Varied version, it just has so much more body to it. I cannot go on without mentioning frontman Kaito’s vocals in this song. Those final growls never get old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MKwYgItwtI
Moving away from the familiar, the title track ‘PALEHELL’ is the first of the two completely new songs on the EP. It embodies a certain brightness without feeling cheesy. It is the musical equivalent of grinning ear to ear and telling people “I don’t give a fuck”. Oozing with the sunshiny rebelliousness that Paledusk have made their trademark, it has a real us and our crew against the world vibe. A personal preference of mine is when bands that come from non-English backgrounds drop in lyrics in their mother tongue, so having a stripped-down section in Japanese was a sweet touch.
Also, who said guitar solos are dead? Guitarist Daidai is bringing them back in a big way on this EP, giving us blistering stadium-quality solos on either side of breakdowns. It has been hard to choose what songs are my favourite on the EP, but under duress of having to decide, it may be this one.
Kicking back again into the revamped tracks, this time revisiting their last EP Happy Talk, with ‘Q2’. Compared to ‘No!’, it has a little more updates. Not only has it been brought into the new era of Paledusk, but it also contains a cheeky verse from Crossfaith frontman Kenta Koie. There is also no denying that Daidai and Tsubasa play the hell out of this song. The subtle brilliance of the riffs and solos in ‘Q2’ is solid evidence to argue that these two guitarists are some of the most underrated in heavy music today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TChJ2n-3rz4
‘PALEHELL’ may be my favourite on the EP, but ‘RUMBLE’ has to objectively be the strongest. Dropping as a single in October last year, it is a song that so far has held up incredibly. I have lost count of how many times I have listened to it. It has that signature stop-start in flow, a mishmash of styles. Layer upon layer of sounds and samples. Absolute sonic bedlam. There are so many parts of this track to highlight, but the feature from coldrain’s Masato Hayakawa pushes it up another level. His clean vocals juxtapose beautifully with Kaito‘s aggressive arf-arfs. Lyrically, it tells an uplifting message about following your heart for your art. Nothing short of anthemic for all those out there looking to embrace their individuality.
There might be some conjecture whether ‘SUPER PALE HORSE’ is a remade version of a classic or simply ‘PALE HORSE’ 2.0. The feature from CVLTE was very well integrated and overall, it is solid- but I'm still not a hundred percent sold on this version. Perhaps my love for the original ‘PALE HORSE’ may be impacting my ability to enjoy it. After many listens thought it is starting to grow on me. The funkiness of the original riff is enhanced, and it takes into an atmospheric, almost dreamlike plane. ‘SUPER PALE HORSE’ is an apt name and is ultimately an interesting reimagining of the original version. I must treat the two as very separate releases though, as my judgement is clouded by nostalgia. Simply because it was ‘PALE HORSE’ that originally hooked me on PALEDUSK.
[caption id="attachment_171316" align="aligncenter" width="430"]
Catch PALEDUSK at CVLTFEST this weekend![/caption]
Like all good rollercoasters, they must come to an end. That is of course sending you through the largest loops and down the steepest drops. ‘TRANQUILO!’ is that final burst of energy. Kaito’s vocals are ravenous, and the breakdown is nasty. Coming in at just a minute and a half, the final moments of this EP are a far cry from the sing-songy opening notes. A finale jam-packed with attitude and aggression, almost as if its purpose is to remind you that while Paledusk can make upbeat and fun music- they are still here to wreck the joint so don’t get too comfortable.
Other than my mixed feelings on ‘SUPER PALE HORSE’, my only critique borders on greediness: I wish there was a little bit more new material. I understand why there isn’t, which is why I do think that this EP is a magnificent release to introduce new listeners to the world of Paledusk. There is no denying though, that the PALEHELL EP will be a landmark release not just for them, but for the sound of metalcore going forward.
Paledusk – PALEHELL tracklisting
1. I'm ready to die for my friends (feat. VIGORMAN)
2. NO!
3. PALEHELL
4. Q2 (feat. Kenta Koi from Crossfaith)
5. Rumble (feat. Masato from coldrain)
6. SUPER PALE HORSE (feat. CVLTE)
7. TRANQUILO!
Rating: 9/10
PALEHELL is out Feb 21st via Greyscale Records. Pre-Order/Save here.
Review by Kayla Hamilton @kaylazomboid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiF5KNTntaI
