In the interest of fairness, especially with showing off my music collection, I couldn't just show off Takeshi's AA= project without showing off Kyono's own solo project. However, when I made those posts, I didn't have any Wagdug Futuristic Unity stuff, unfortunately. Once I did get them, though, I spun the hell out of them to get a good feel for Kyono's new sound. The album on the left, Nu Riot, is a "mini-album", more along the lines of an EP than a full-length album, whereas the one on the right, Hakai, is a real full debut album. Both of these particular 2-disc digipak releases have DVDs which are correctly marked as being Region 2, unlike the "all-region" DVD included with AA='s #1.
Because of that, I'll be focusing solely on Hakai for reviewing the set. While Hakai is a much different beast than #1 is, that doesn't mean it's bad or anything. While there are a few problems I have with the album, mainly the production, it's one tough-as-nails digital hardcore record. It's because of Kyono's vocal presence, barely different than how he sounded on CiSTm K0nFLiqT..., that it sounds more like a Mad album than #1, even though it completely lacks Takeshi's songwriting touch.
As such, a few of the weaker tracks on the album, such as the album opener, feel completely bereft of a driving rhythm, but the stronger tracks have a lot of the Mad style to them, especially whenever Kyono opts to use his now-roughened singing voice over his scream-rapping voice; although no matter which voice he uses, it always meshes perfectly with the hard electronic sound of the album. The whole album suffers from barely having any bass in the mix, and that issue combined with the loud "mass compression" attitude about the album means you're going to have to get used to the lack of bass if you really want to dig into the album. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find a digital hardcore album that's easily worth your time.
The tracklisting for Nu Riot is as follows:
1. Nu Riot (x Shitdisco)
4. Budda Space
The tracklisting for Hakai is as follows:
2. Got Life
5. Mad Saturator
6. Ill Machine (x Namba Akihiro [Ultra Brain x Hi-Standard]) (Hakai Version)
7. G.O.D. Space
8. Wall (x Chino Moreno of Deftones)
9. Mass Compression (x Namba Akihiro [Ultra Brain x Hi-Standard])
10. Chaostic Radio
11. Rise It! (x Funky Gong of Joujouka)
12. X-Stereo (x Justice) (yes, that Justice)
13. Nu World (x Numanoid vs. Mazda)
14. Weapons Of WAG Destruction (x COM.a)
15. Systematic People (feat. Maximum The Ryo of Maximum The Hormone) (WAG Version)
Can anyone confirm for me if "Sample Loaned" on the Hakai discs is a normal thing or not?
Finally, below are the obis, as well as the liner note booklets, both the regular and exclusively Japanese versions. Nu Riot's Japanese liner note booklet contains an album review or whatever which I can't read, while Hakai's is basically the same as the regular liner notes but with the English lyrics in Japanese, no additional writeups or anything. As of this writing, the only other Wagdug CD I have is the remix/mashup disc Destroy The Destruction. I haven't ordered the Ill Machine single yet, but I have copies of R.A.M. and Raw on their way to my post office. I'll likely have them tomorrow, and I'll be able to give you writeups and pictures of those once I've had enough time to absorb them.
It's odd that Sony Music Japan puts barcodes on both the obi and the back cover of the case.
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