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| Released September 24, 2014 |
What a surprise to see that Onmyouza decided to release 2 albums on the same day. Both of them are meant to complement each other like the Fuujin (Wind God) and Raijin (Thunder God). Overall I think both albums still kept the original style that Onmyouza had, but didn't explore as much as I thought it would. It's gearing more towards symphonic metal than folk metal with a lot of complexity in melody.
I wouldn't say one album is better than the other. Both had songs I liked and dislike. On both album's final tracks, Onmyouza ended with a pop-sounding kind of song making it upbeat and lighter in tone. There's still a good mixture of folk sounds and vocals and Western metal in a few songs giving that trademark Onmyouza touch. I will leave some short impressions I had of each track on both albums.
Fuujin Kaikou
1. Fuujin
A surprisingly light acoustic song as an opener to the album. It transitions to neoclassical towards the second half of the instrumental giving it a sense of transcendence.
2. Kamikaze
The beginning of Kamikaze felt a little bit like the opening of Aoki Dokugan and it seems to echo a bit throughout the song in terms of structure.
3. Saredo Itsuwari no Okuribi
It serves as a continuation of Kamikaze. I didn't find it very memorable.
4. Ichimokuren
One of my favorite songs because it gives a sense of push and pull. The varying tempo provided by the percussion creates contrast between the slower paced vocals. It's one of those songs where it's better when you head bang to it.
5. Hebimiko
A sad sounding ballad. I'm only guessing it's sad, because I don't have the translation.
6. Tsumujikaze
Another fast paced song with distortion and guitar solos.
7. Mufuu Ninpouchou
A heavy metal sounding song with a nice bass. It also varies in tempo where it slows down a bit in a few instances.
8. Yaobikuni
Named after the legend about Yaobikuni, this 8 minute song in my opinion is the best song on the album. I think it captures the atmosphere of the condemning fate of Yaobikuni. Just to give a bit of background information, Japanese folkore recounts that whoever eats the flesh of a mermaid will gain immortality. A drunk fisherman accidentally gave it to his daughter to which she gained immortality. As her husbands passed away, she would stay young. Eventually she took up the life of a nun and the name of Yaobikuni, meaning 800 year old nun.
9. Manazashi
A soothing kind of rock ballad. Wouldn't say it's entirely soft though.
10. Kumo wa Ryuu ni Mai, Kaze wa Otori ni Utau
This particular song is probably best classified as symphonic with light rock/metal elements. The title roughly translates to "the dragon dances in the clouds, the phoenix sings in the wind". Again it goes with the harmony of having two elements complementing each other.
11. Yue ni Sono Toki Koto Kaze no Gotoku
Fast paced kind of hard ballad.
12. Haru Ranman ni Shiki Mau Nari
A very upbeat almost pop rock kind of song since the theme is about the vitality of spring.
Raijin Sousei
1. Raijin
A fairly ominous sounding song that builds up excitement. It's good as an opening to concerts.
2. Tengoku no Ikazuchi
A powerful song.
3. Chihayaburu
This one was my least favorite on the album. It just didn't appeal to me and sounded like their typical works.
4. Hitokabemaru
This is less of a singing type of song, but more like a chant and instrumental used for segways between concerts. It's very raw and simple.
5. Yoaruki Kawara Botan
I like how folk sounding the vocals are in this one.
6. Kannari Ninpouchou
I didn't like this one at first, but eventually I liked how it flowed to my ears.
7. Tengu Warai
Continues from the previous song. It shows a "sassier" side to Kuroneko's vocals.
8. Seiten no Mikazuki
Pretty much the promotional song for this album and the pachinko game. Part of the whole Date Masumune theme, it has a lot of vigor and action in it.
9. Kasane
Starts off slow and then speeds up. Starts off foreboding, then upbeat, and then hardcore headbanging metal. Nearly 13 minutes long.
10. Higurashi
A very slow song and I think it's the slowest one. It's a very soothing kind of ballad.
11. Shikou Shite Ugoku Koto Raitei no Gotoshi
This was an ok song.
12. Raibu
Another upbeat rock song.
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