The amalgamation of lighter genres of metal with J-Pop and other Japanese styles of music isn't a new phenomenon. Movements like Artcore, Visual Kei, and Kawaii Metal have made waves across continents, the most relevant acts being BABYMETAL, MALICE MIZER, and Dir en Grey. Unlike others, Artcore isn't a metal genre; it's more of a clash between EDM and classical crossover. However, it is an influence in one of the more recent Japanese metal releases, Fadeless, the marker of Imy's decolagy of J-pop/alternative metal works. The record is only four songs, each featuring another artist in the scene, so for the sake of readability, I'll simply be going through each track separately.

In albums like these, the artwork usually features a scantily-clad anime woman, a girl, or, sadly, sometimes a scantily-clad girl. Thankfully, this one is wearing a dress. I'd further pick apart the aesthetics here, but the longer I'm writing this, the higher the chances that someone walks in and leaves with newfangled opinions regarding what I look at. Track one, Two Marigolds in English, features Akina, a member of the Vivid BAD SQUAD, a gang focusing on dance-pop. The song is piano-forward, with Mirin's high-pitched vocals, a staple of the style. The dance-pop vibes are strong throughout, with minimal guitars or alternative instrumentation. I'm hoping other tracks feature artists with heavier offerings. Up next is, in English, of course, Wrapped in Waves. The additional singer is Nakuru Aitsuki, whose affiliation is with, again, more J-Pop projects. It's a more melodic track, mimicking the gentle rocking of the waves they're probably singing about. There's louder drums, but that's about it.

The second half of the release's song titles are already in English, and things immediately ramp up in intensity. Not Falling is where the promised alternative metal shines, where the guitars get grittier, and Itsuki Natsume debuts. The breakdown at around two-and-a-half minutes won't blow you away, but it was a burst of energy I needed to go on. Itsuki occasionally raps in an alternative fashion, which is interesting because she doesn't seem to be affiliated with anything more than J-Pop groups. Lastly, Lycoris, featuring Hanatan, introduces a guitar solo and audible bass. It seems like the record is split into two parts: one calm, one energetic. I can't say I hate it!

To see this album have a spot on the Metal Temple website, situated next to gory death metal records and black metal opuses, will be a fun sight for sure. It deserved to be there, though. After Imy puts you at ease with ballads, they'll animate you with power. There's even a prog tag, so the reasons for my liking keep coming.