Mucc - Shangri-La (2012) (9,5/10)

MUCC is one of the most famous Japanese Visuael Kei bands along with D'ESPAIRSRAY, DIR EN GREY and X JAPAN. Until now, they haven't been the best band of their kind for me ut surely the most diversified and open-minded of them. There almost seems to be no genre that hasn't been touched by the band and their new release "Shangri-La" isn't an exception, it's rather the perfect example to portray the band's diversity. A look on the colourful cover artwork and booklet should already give you a quite clear idea of what to expect from this record. After half a dozen spins of this mostly Japanese sung music, I'm ready to say that MUCC have now even become the best Visual Kei band of the moment because they finally mix highly courageous ideas with a gripping and unforgettable song writing on "Shangri-La." Let's see how much you can take from these crazy Japanese!

You want radio friendly Japanese Pop music? The band gives you "Night Sky Craypas." You want some danceable and modern Dubstep and House moments? Just go for the single "Arcadia" that also features DAISHI DANCE. You prefer romantic Blues and Jazz with a slight Rockabilly touch? Then, you absolutely need the great swinging retro anthem "Pure Black" with a few female narrative passages in English. Normally, these three genres aren't my cup of tea at all but apart of the stunning bonus track "Omake", I would go as far to cite this song as my favourite one on here. You want to hear some good old Punk Rock? That's what you get when you listen to the energizing "Honey." You want some calm but still thought out and progressive rock or pop music? You should go for the epic and well developed title track and official album closer "Shangri-La." You need some atmospheric but still energizing Metal music somewhere between Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal and some minimal Metalcore influences? Discover the great hidden track "Omake“ which can be found at number 69 after some moments of silence. Even though these tracks all sound quite different, they still all sound one hundred percent like MUCC and the well chosen track list manages to create logical transitions between the different styles. The album sounds fluid and thought out. It has many surprising moments but never feels randomly put together. That's where the spectacular talent of the band lies in and where all the madness suddenly makes perfect sense. Japanese artists have a special talent for this kind of stunning diversity but no other band I have discovered until now did so great as MUCC do it here.

The band doesn't only discover all these genres separately though. The opening "Mr. Liar“ mixes electronic elements reminding me of ROBERT MILES with Melodic Death Metal parts in the key of CHILDREN OF BODOM and modern Japanese Pop music like AUSTRAL VAMPIRE. The opener also includes acosutic guitars and a melodic mid tempo guitar solo. The second tune „G.G.“ includes modern Industrial Rock riffs and electronic beats that meet simple Latin American flavoured sing along passages one would rather expect from RICKY MARTIN before heavy Dubstep influences and an emotional guitar solo kick in in the puzzling middle part. I don't know how the band comes to write this kind of songs but the combinations all work geniously. As you can see, the band puts more diversity into one single track than others put in entire albums or even discographies. The most amazing thing is that even these single diversified tracks sound structured and mix emotions with intellectuality, catchy hooks with experimental passages, the expectable with the unexpectable to create a nearly perfect mixture. What even surprises more is that many catchy songs parts immediatley grow on you at first try and won't get out of your head despite their complexity. Even the most challenging tracks are moving your mind and soul after a few precious spins only. No matter if you like the band's weird music, you won't get rid of it anytime soon once you got in touch with it.

What is left to say in the end? If you are ready for a truly diversified, exceptional and genre-breaking fun ride, this record is your new bible. Visual Kei fans should consider this release as a modern genre highlight. Metal purists should go as far away from it as they possibly can though because this band tries out anything and mixes some of your favourite music with things your probably hate the most. This album includes more diversity and is much cheaper than 10 records from 10 different artists of 10 different genres. I couldn't listen to this kind of music all the time of course and I must admit that the last third of the album is slightly less gripping and impressive than the first eight songs. Nevertheless, this record is among the very best of the last year. If you are addicted enough, you should get the value for money package that includes a second disc with 10 impressive live tracks that honour this band's fifteenth anniversary. Cheers on the next 15 years and congratulations!

(Online August 15, 2013)