Album: D - Neo culture~Beyond the world~

Neo culture~Beyond the world~

Date released: 7.11.2007.

Track list
1. Follow
2. SIGNAL
3. 桜花咲きそめにけり (Ouka saki some ni keri) [PV]
4. Schwarzschild [PV]
5. Glacial melt
6. Marine snow
7. Canon Del Colca
8. Graveless
9. 空に咲(え)む花、水に凄み地に宿る。(Sora ni samu hana, mizu ni sugomi chi ni yodoru.)
10. 久遠 (Kuon)
11. 薔薇色の日々(Barairo no hibi) [PV]
12. Dearest you [PV]

Not counting the single Corvinus by Asagi, this was actually my first encounter with the Visual kei band D. And it was a positive encounter as well.

The first third of Neo Culture is brilliant, a mix of various styles and approaches that surprises by every new track. Starting off with the powerful and vocally wast Follow then going on to a bit 12012 flavored hard rock SIGNAL. Ouka saki some ni keri is definitely my favorite track on the album, a catchy Neo Japanisque rock song that conquers with its interesting shamizen played melody and traditional Japanese atmosphere and touch.
Schwarzschlid may seem a bit hectic on the beginning because of the Gothic/symphony metal tones coming in all directions quite aggressively, but later develops into a much calmer and expressive piece.

Unfortunately the other two thirds of the album are not as quite exciting as the first one. Fast, but misty Glacial melt, decent ballad Marine Snow and with nice Spanish guitars spiced Canon Del Colca represent decent songs but without any special highlights to it.
Graveless has got a dark, almost horror like atmosphere and some interesting transitions and Sora ni samu hana, mizu ni sugomi chi ni yodoru. is an great, hard, but rather uncatchy song with an oriental touch. In the second half of the album probably only Kuon managed to capture my attention being a very emotional and beautiful ballad.

I found Baraioro no Hibi quite irritating, but that's my opinion, since I'm not much into loud, happy-go-lucky rock songs. Dearest you is again decent and interesting, but nothing too special.

Overall this album absolutely shines to the first third, but somehow fails to hold that excitement till the end. Not that the songs in the other half are bad, but they are not as half as exciting as the first four songs. You will find it hard to follow the whole album till the end, unless you are a D fan. And I must not forget to mention D's very talented singer Asagi, who has got one of the best and most controlled voices in Visual kei, but it is also a matter of taste if you will like his somewhat high pitched notes and vibrato.
Neo culture~Beyond the world~ is a great album that perfectly reflects the Visual kei movement overall. A truly representative Visual kei album worth listening and wasting your money on.