Re:O – Reverie
Some music outlets release full-length albums, while others are bound to share singles, which is perfectly fine if those tracks are catchy, memorable, and engaging. If you compare those two formats, you can notice that it’s far more difficult to release standalone singles than albums, mainly because there is no room for mistakes. The separate track acts as a showcase where each element needs to shine in order for a song to stand out, while in the case of full-length albums, you can always add those filler numbers to fill the gaps in between. With the tenth single recently released via all streaming platforms, Re:O proves that you do not need to have a comprehensive collection of songs stacked together to demonstrate your tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities. Quite the contrary, you just need a track like “Reverie,” a perfect showcase where fascinating skills, talent, creativity, experience, and knowledge collide harmoniously. What makes this composition so catchy, memorable, and irresistible is that collision between several different yet complementary subgenres of rock and metal music. Re:O merges together only the finest properties of melodic metal, alternative rock, synth rock, and hard rock, crafting a soundscape that leaves you speechless even after the song comes to an end. But as usual, many other factors also play a significant role in this sonic equation, making it a perfect melodic metal composition worth spinning over and over again.
Photo courtesy of the band.
On their tenth standalone single, Re:O play with tension and release, that push and pull technique where you stumble upon calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly soundscapes, and then, all of a sudden, you’ve been transported directly into a completely different universe with the appearance of heavy, powerful, aggressive instrumentations. Still, even during those heavier moments, you’ll notice a layer of melody and harmony floating above. During those segments, Re:O demonstrates impressive songwriting and composing abilities, as “Reverie” arrives with a perfect structure, decorated with all those cleverly constructed segments, brilliant ideas, and outstanding orchestrations. Of course, the first thing you’ll notice when you press play is how Rio Suyama’s magnificent voice shines in the limelight. She skillfully elevates every sonic and rhythmic maneuver, commanding attention and guiding listeners through every section of the song by flawlessly balancing low, mid, and high notes. Besides decorating and emphasizing all those segments and orchestrations, she contributes more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. In the meantime, the collision between lush synths and heavy guitars shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. On one side, you’ll hear how all those clean, jangly, ethereal, luxuriant synth leads, themes, melodies, and pads bring the otherworldly vibes, while the generously distorted, aggressive, heavy guitar riffs resonate on the other side. You’ll also notice the subtle addition of a chorus effect on guitars, spicing up all those riffs without removing that heaviness from them. Everything is so carefully, thoughtfully, flawlessly assembled that you’ll get the feel as if you stepped into a completely different dimension.
You’ll also notice how the bass guitar is perfectly blended with the electric guitar during those heavy moments and is more audible during calmer segments. Those equally impressive low-ends lurk beneath synths and guitars, offering more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while simultaneously serving as a binding element that connects the mentioned instrumentations and rhythmic patterns. This particular instrument brings all the warmth, depth, density, groove, and detail without overwhelming other instruments. Of course, this composition wouldn’t sound complete without an exceptional drumming performance. You’ll hear how all those wisely assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics emphasize each theme, melody, harmony, and bassline with precision and finesse. Every kick of the snare, hit of the bass drum, accentuation of the hi-hat, and splash of the cymbal plays a significant role in bringing more dynamics, power, and groove to this impressive track. With their tenth standalone single, Re:O not only showcase their tremendous songwriting and composing abilities but also demonstrate how brilliant ideas and impressive musicianship can bring even more innovation into melodic metal and rock music. They prove that these particular genres, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, and exciting, like they were the first time you’ve heard them on the radio. “Reverie” is not only one of the finest tracks you’ll hear this year, but a rock-solid proof that Re:O are torchbearers of the modern melodic rock sound. You should immediately place this masterpiece on your music radar.
https://youtu.be/I3Zf02NiwKg?si=0aEkRMeHPrKJMoXQ
https://open.spotify.com/track/7L1X4VJb7qJuNPWxbToP7G?si=56c1ddd69795459a
#ALTERNATIVE #melodicMetal #MELODICROCK #METAL #MUSIC #REO #REVIEWS #ROCK
