DELUHI – Yggdalive

After turning out several promising singles and embarking on a national tour with Matenrou Opera, DELUHI wraps up their most successful year with their November release, Yggdalive. The nine track mini-album is an excellent listen that steps away from the band’s metal roots in an attempt to explore a more alternative approach.

“Overture –Yggdalive-“is one of the catchiest album openers I’ve heard in a long time. A techno fusion coupled with a chanting choir and violin section, “Overture” is the lovechild of Versailles’ “Prelude” and UnsraW’s “End of Finale.” Like most openers, the song transitions smoothly to the first full track on the album, “G.A.L.D.” The song contains another brilliant arrangement by guitarist Leda, whose prodigal skills continuously soar beyond my comprehension and melt my ears into a delightful little puddle of six-stringed bliss. Not that anyone’s exaggerating here, but the song is pretty damned good.

Next up is “Revolver Blast,” Yggdalive‘s boldest track that inspired an equally aggressive image for the song’s PV. “Revolver Blast” is as every bit abrupt as Dir en grey’s “Agitated Screams of Maggots”, just without that creepy animation sequence and half the screaming. Although the song is pretty decent, the first 15 seconds are drenched with what I’d like to call Dragon Force vomit (which almost ruined the entire track for me). Luckily, the 90mph arpeggios and mediocre overuse of double bass tone down by the chorus and the song reclaims itself.

The string of Yggdalive‘s more hardcore songs ends with “Flow Snow,” whose title seems to be an amusing understatement. Yes, Juri’s vocals are much sweeter and melodic but the track resembles more of a blizzard when it comes to everything else. This time the guitar, drums, and bass have gone off the “Revolver Blast” steroids while still sticking to a power-metal agenda. “Flow Snow” is definitely more relatable to fan favorites like “s[k]ape:goat” and “Hybrid Truth” so I’m voting this one as Yggdalive‘s best overall song.

Running a close second to “Flow Snow” is the more rhythmic “Wake Up!” which explores a totally new alley for DELUHI. “Wake Up!” is refreshingly more upbeat than the majority of DELUHI’s discography and every aspect of it is just downright catchy. As of now my commentary on this one is limited because I’m simply too busy dancing to it.

The mini-album closes with two more surprises in the form of a punky anthem, “Follow the Future” and “Hoshi no Nai Yoru ni,” a melancholic ballad that just needs to be held and snuggled with. I have to say that at first I was surprised by Yggdalive‘s genre-switching roller coaster ride which did take a few listens to get used to. However, the raw talent of this four-piece band and the flow of the mini-album are what make DELUHI’s new eclectic style so overwhelmingly successful. Being a big fan of DELUHI myself, Yggdalive is definitely deserving of high ratings and I hope it receives little gold stars across everyone’s boards.

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