FANGDRILLER: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist
Saidan

From Bandcamp, "Continuing a multi album length concept, "FANGDRILLER" is our most ambitious record to date. And follows the story of a student named Junko as she struggles to find worth miles away from home, haunted by wistful solitude. Her isolation makes her the perfect victim for a mysterious cult known as Ethereal Blood, while also serving as a personal analogy for lead songwriter Splatterpvnk's struggles with depression. Inspired by the lofi nature of classic Visual Kei and Gothic Black Metal, musically we wanted to create something that sounded nostalgic for an era of music that doesn't exist while continuing to stay true to ourselves." The album has ten songs. "Razorblade Temptation" is first, and a thick, overgrown section of riffs and blast beat drums lead off the song. The vocals are raspy, and there is melody in tow, and they actually work very well with the aggression.
"Immersed by Eternity's Blade" bring melody along with the storm of darkness and contention, and neither is winning the race across shifting, black skies. It's a fast moving blast of hot air, so you better be ready to hang on. "Kara no Bara" combines the fierceness and fury of Black Metal with Melodic Death Metal, and the song is, dare I even say, catchy. The melodies get stuck in your head, and the balance between the two opposing styles is astounding. "Womb of Hatred" uses synth notes along with the bed of lighting fast aggression, and the sound moves right up into your face. It borders on chaos as times, but other times slows to let the melody shine, and shine it does. "Stained Glass Sin // Fang Driller" begins with soft, somber piano notes and you can feel the depression sinking in. But it takes off from there, like a rocket shooting into the heavens. Once again, it moves so fast that you can barely catch your breath.
"Ethereal Blood" hears the scorching pace continue and the band isn't stepping off the gas pedal even a little. It plows forward, smashing every barrier in its path to little bits, but again, brings melody with it. Listen them carefully…they come through strong. "Beat to Death" is aptly titled, because that's exactly what the song does to you. First, it reigns fists down until you hit the ground, next they keep coming until you stop breathing altogether. "Mortuary" closes the album, and it showcases another side of the band altogether, with a sweet, melodic song with clean vocals that will make you ache. The album was excellent, and there were even some surprises along the way. There is a foundation of iron with the aggressive tones, but melody isn't an afterthought, and the two play together nicely in the sandbox, even if the skies overhead are dark.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production

"FANGDRILLER: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist" Track-listing:
1. Razorblade Temptation
2. Rapture (I'll Wait for You)
3. Immersed by Eternity's Blade
4. Kara no Bara
5. Womb of Hatred
6. Stained Glass Sin // Fang Driller
7. Her Lips Pressed Against a Coffin Nail
8. Ethereal Blood
9. Beat To Death
10. Mortuary
Saidan Lineup:
Splatterpvnk – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Hundosai – Drums
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