Magistina Saga - The Tone of Temptation
CD Info
2012
Darkest Labyrinth & Starwave Records
7 Tracks
Japanese Lyrics
Ok, this is a CD review, in the broadest sense anyway. Can’t recall how I stumbled on this stuff but it made an impression. As did the band’s website which is pretty much entirely in Japanese. So let me first state for the record that I have virtually no clue what’s going on here. My lawyers have been appraised of the situation, my telephone number is now unlisted and I deny everything. If you don’t believe me, that’s your problem, I claim banker’s privilege here and the Fifth Amendment is my friend. But, if you checked out the website you know we’re talking about a pretty damn hot looking group of people, and the music is pretty good as well. And before we get into it, let me send you to the label websites. The first one is Starwave Records for the Visual-Metal and the second is Darkest Labyrinth for the goth-electro. Fookin’ awesome, right? I mean, who’d a thunk it, being as how I’m in the land of everlasting Polkas this is hard to handle, ain’a. But, in all fairness, I did get help here with this review, Val, from MFVF seems to know a lot about this stuff and did some sublime photography during a recent trip to Japan which can be seen here and here. Damn, not a rapper in site, praise be. And, I got help from other English speaking folks too, so, if there’s problems, blame them. I’m just a lowly scribe with a drinking problem and not to be held accountable for anything.
Well, the CD, and I think I have the correct title above, is really an EP in my estimation. They call it a mini album or something to that effect. But it sure presents some material that is more than a little enjoyable. There’s some metal, some symphonic, a pretty fair vocal and, well, the message is a bit beyond me so we won’t spend much time there. They say it’s Goth so it gets a plus from me, but exactly what that Gothic message is will be forever hidden from my vodka soaked mind. Ya know, the more I think of it, Sake might have been more appropriate here, and they have it down the street. Well, maybe the next review, the label clearly has more than one solid sound with the potential for a review.
OK, so here’s what I have in terms of information. The name first, "The name Magistina Saga signifies a fairy tale of magic and truth. It came into existence because the members sought a unique name unlike any other, one that reflected the band's color and the members' individual styles of musical expression." I see those fairy tales of magic and truth after many nights of heavy drinking, now I have music to go with it. The performers, and I think there are three major ones are Iori on vocal, Urugi on guitar and Kyo on bass. A session guy does drums and the band programs the keyboard parts. They must spend a lot of time on that later component, there’s some pretty damn good symphonics working here.
In general, the label says this about the production, "’Temptation gives rise to sin...’
The new mini-album contains 7 songs, including new compositions, rearrangements, and SE tracks! Yuu of lix handled the sound production for this release, and as with the previous release, the CD jacket was designed by Hiroshi of SUICIDE ALI. The new CD is sure to allure you with its strange tones and gothic melodies layered with female vocals. Will be available for pre-sale at their September 28, 2012 live gig!" No idea what an SE track is but I’m pretty sure it’s profound. And I do know a thing or two about sin. But SUICIDE ALI, that’s a new one on me, gonna have to study up on that one.
To be clear there are some really interesting sounds here, someone knew a thing or two about production, guess it was that dude Yuu. Anyway, in talking about the songs, which we’re actually gonna do in a minute here, be advised that several of them are titled in Japanese only and I don’t think we have that on the server and you wouldn’t understand it anyway. Russian, Hebrew, Persian, yes. . . Japanese, I don’t think so. So, I’m just gonna refer to them by Track number in those instances, beyond that, you’re on your fookin’ own.
They’re telling me this little production took a half a year to produce. Probably a Sake problem, in my estimation. It began with the third track, in terms of writing that is. It’s called After Artifice and no, that’s not Floor Jensen on vocals. But, it’s pretty cool. Ya gotta love the black nails on the guitar dude, straight out of Norway. The song was written by the bassist and they tell me it’s about clowns. Really, where’s the Goth? Who the fook cares, that video is HOT. The label tells me "The theme of the lyrics is a deep perspective on romantic love, portraying someone who felt dominant in a relationship and seemed to be just toying with the partner, when in fact the partner was the one doing the toying and allowing that sense of dominance." Where’d they get that, from one of my ex wives? Me being the one who got it in the end.
The second track, Tsuioku no Oto, which you will not see written that way, is a darker variety of Japanese Gothic. Here’s what they have to say about it, " It was written by guitarist Urugi, who composed it with a strong influence from the anime Black Butler. He wrote the track with the wish that it would become an opening song for the anime. In some ways, the track progresses in a manner similar to [ideal≠reality] - dark and intense up to the chorus, then maintaining that darkness as the sound instantly becomes more melodious. The bridge adds yet another expressive melody to further deepen the song's perspective, resulting in a composition that listeners can enjoy from start to end." Well, ya, ya, ya. But, it’s pretty interesting listening, no matter how you phrase it. Nicely developed and well presented. Now if someone could tell me what an anime is, I don’t know the term. Wikipedia provides a definition but I suspect you’d have to see it to really understand.
Another track of interest is the one they mention above, ideal#reality. You get a Gothic like intro to the music, but, at some point, we move to a more pop oriented sound. As often happens, the symphonic sound makes this one really comfortable for those of us with a natural inclination towards the sounds from Western Europe. The vocal delivery mirrors this style, if not in a Tarja like manner. But, this is the East and we need to get use to it. And here, we again get a crushing guitar on occasion to make us feel at home with the metal.
Well, you’ll notice I’m a little light on lyrical interpretation, not having studied Japanese in Spain during my educational experiences. But, the label tells me the lyrics were developed by the vocalist, the lovely Ms. Iori. They are said to have a focus on the idea of relationships. Exactly how this becomes Gothic is, again, a mystery to me. But, with the disasters in my personal relationships with the opposite sex, I can certainly see some reasonable correlation there with the Gothic experience.
For most of us, the music will drive this listening experience. You won’t understand the message; you’re unlikely to see the band live. But, the music is solid, no matter where it was produced. And, it captures what is of interest to most of us here on this site. And that is certainly sufficient for me to recommend it. Of course, a little Sake probably wouldn’t hurt; my experience is that it helps with most matters.
9 / 10
