With BAND-MAID set to release their debut full-length Just Bring It worldwide next month (out now in Japan), I’ve decided to review their 4-track maxi single for "YOLO". The J-rock quintet have made waves in Europe throughout 2016 with their first shows on the continent, starting with an appearance at May's London Comic-Con, and a well received JPU Records debut with mini-album Brand New MAID. Their relentless schedule means that their first full length comes just over 6 months since the mini-album's release.
The lead track from the single is probably among the best songs that BAND-MAID have ever done. The riffs are catchy, the hooks are addictive and Kanami Tōno's solo is insane. Everything is well placed in the mix, with the inventive bass playing of Misa given plenty of room to breathe against the guitar playing of Tōno and Miku Kobato. With proper support this song should be getting major circulation on rock radio and TV.
The first of the B-Sides, "Unfair game", wouldn't be out of place on any of BAND-MAID's previous efforts, with a neat hard rock groove driving the song home and carried by Saiki Atsumi's strong vocal performance. While not the most original song, its awesome solo means it's more than worthy of repeat spins.
The final track is just an instrumental, so isn't really worth mentioning, but the other B-Side, "matchless GUM", really shouldn't be a B-Side. One of BAND-MAID's slower songs, it has much simpler instrumentation compared to their other songs and adds a bit of variety to their sound. The vocal patterns complement the music really well and build into another fantastic chorus. How this only earned B-Side status is beyond me but it makes me excited for the stuff that did make it on to the new album.
Check out more of BAND-MAID's stuff here.