Schizophrenic - A review of Zettai Club's Mugendai Thriller

Zettai Club was a short-lived Japanese female metal group that was quite difficult to categorize which was both the quintet's charm and its downfall. This is the band's second and final full length entitled Mugendai Thriller that is rather an extended play to be honest. It features six regular tunes and two instrumentals that open and conclude this release that clocks in at thirty-one minutes.

The second tune ''Ankokugensou'' already exemplifies the band's chaotic style. A calm piano solo is followed by speedy power metal before things slow down again and opt for an atmospheric visual kei style. The middle section meanders back and forth from atmospheric gothic vibes with chugging riffs over more technical guitar soloing to abruptly interwoven piano passages. While this kind of songwriting could be described as adventurous, diversified and entertaining, it should leave most listeners behind scratching their heads. It's unclear what this band is trying to sound like because it sounds like nothing while trying to sound like everything at once.

If you thought that things couldn't get more confusing, you'll be in for a treat with oddball ''Aoihonoo''. The song features three different vocal styles with melodic lead vocals, energetic backing shouts and hoarse screams. These three vocal styles collide in a saccharine power metal tune with occasionally more sinister symphonic elements. Once again, you might be wondering where this song is going until you realize that it just isn't going anywhere.

An album's title track usually displays what a record is all about, so let's give ''Mugendai Thriller'' a chance. The track opens with complex rhythm changes flirting with progressive metal territory. The song then turns into a smooth gothic metal tune with circus music elements. This leads to a power metal chorus with elegant clean vocals and misplaced backing screams. The title track confirms everything we have learned before. No direction at all is the record's guiding line.

What doesn't help is the album's dreadful production. The keyboard sounds are particularly artificial. The rhythm guitars sound toothless. The bass guitar pops up randomly for solo parts here and there, only to recede and being completely underproduced. The same could be said about the guitar sound that shines in the solo spots but otherwise reminds me of a backing instrument on a contemporary pop album. The melodic lead vocals sound stellar while the backing shouts and screams appear suddenly out of nowhere and sound like underproduced first takes. As you can read, even the uneven production goes along with the confusing song material.

So, what's the final verdict here? Is this a good album. No, it certainly isn't because it's all over the place. Is this a bad album? No, that would be harsh because the involved singer, lead guitarist and even keyboardist showcase talent in almost every single tune. Could this be described as an average album, then? No, Zettai Club sounds like many things but like no other group at the same time. This record is memorable for not managing to be memorable. It stands out for attempting to being everything at once and ending up sounding like nothing at all.

At the end of the day, this album is only interesting for avid collectors of female visual kei bands who find it amusing when bands walk so far off the beaten path that it confuses nine out of ten people. If you are that guy or girl, go ahead and give this album a spin. As for everyone else, stay away from this oddball.

Final rating: 50%