______ _______ _______ ______ _____ _______ | __ \ | | | | __ \ |_| ___| | < | | | __ < | ___| proudly presents... |___|__|_______|__|_|__|______/_______|_______| ............................................................................ Artist...... Windrunner Album....... Mai Label....... Famined Records Genre....... Metal Releasedate 2018-11-30 Encoder..... Bitrate..... 320kbps Size........ 114.30 mb Duration.... 47:09 WWW......... http://www.deezer.com/us/album/134680662 .Tracklist ................................................................. 01 Mulan [ 1:40] 02 Oleander [ 3:26] 03 Sakura (Feat. Sang Yul Song) [ 4:02] 04 Marigold [ 4:41] 05 Orchid (Feat. Yuto Hirabayashi) [ 5:26] 06 Dahlia [ 2:23] 07 Mai [ 4:37] 08 Cedar [ 4:00] 09 Rose [ 4:32] 10 Narcissus [ 3:38] 11 Lotus [ 4:12] 12 Rose (Vietnamese Bonus Track) [ 4:32] .Releasenotes .............................................................. When one thinks about the elementsùand granted I donÆt think we ponder them too much anymoreùone is often preoccupied with the ôbigö ones. Those elements that we generally attribute to gross destruction or necessity for life (and itÆs funny how theyÆre one in the same, isnÆt it?) Those elements like fireùfrom which we derive light and warmth but also incineration and destructionùand water, without which life as we know it would be nil. But what about wind? Often forgotten but still undeniably powerful, wind is as majestic as it can be terrifying, giving rise to shifting climates and changing weatherùa spectrum ranging from passing clouds and devastating tornadoes. So when Vietnamese metalcore outfit, Windrunner, stormed their way into the worldwide heavy music scene, it wouldnÆt be a lie to say they blew me away. Borrowing elements from progressive metalcore acts like Erra, Damned Spring Fragrantia, Northlane and more, Mai is the bandÆs debut album which sees the band erupt into the ears of listeners worldwide with a sprawling, all-encompassing attack on the senses. Boasting brutalizing breakdowns and jarring grooves alongside segments of ethereal calm and peace, Mai is a majestic release that sees Windrunner reach prodigal heights with what feels like precious little effort. Mai is a lengthy journey through many of the most appealing aspects of progressive metalcore. Beginning with an opening salvo of groovy, aggressive tracks that quickly segue into a more melodic and atmospheric mood, Windrunner oscillate gracefully between the (somewhat narrow) extremes afforded by their genre. Songs like ôOleanderö and the crushing climax to the opener ôMulanö are two examples of the band lashing out with a more dissonant and ferocious hand. Meanwhile, other songsùôCedar,ö or the title track, ôMai,öùare more balanced, including moments of serenity between segments of gritty grooves and pummeling percussion. WindrunnerÆs entire dynamic flows as such; the percussion is constant, never too forward and demanding but never quite simple, instead giving the band a strong backbone to build on within every track. The same is true of the bassùwhile boasting an excellent tone, it is never ôtoo much,ö which is to say that it never weighs down the more ethereal aspects of the release. Instead, it bounces boldly behind the more aggressive and intense moments of the album, bringing beef only when needed. At the end of the dayùand the same is true for just about every progressive metalcore actùthe defining aspect of Windrunner is their guitar work, which includes a prominent oriental and traditional flare. ôMarigoldö highlights this excellently, weaving entrancing leads in and around bombastic breakdowns and soothing segments of serene, calming instrumentation using what might beàa harp? Be it authentic or cleverly programmed, WindrunnerÆs inclusion of their homelandÆs traditional music is endearing and adds a new depth to their sound which demands, at the very least, respectùeven though in reality it earns that, coupled with awe, easily. Windrunner, on paper, are a near perfect progressive metalcore actùand this, for the most part, holds true with their vocal element, although it also sees the bandÆs otherwise high marks start to waver. Mai boasts an impressive display of vocal power that spans the entire album and maintains good energy and endurance throughout. However, by the time Mai begins to near its end, the listener gets frankly tired, in part because Mai is dangerously close to an hour, and in other part because the actÆs vocal elements are fairly monotonous. ôOleanderö is an example of the band having an incredible vocal presence, but by the time Mai is about over, the listener is growing tired of the same mid-range yells that foray into occasional bellows and nearly-clean sung segments. This isnÆt to say that the vocals on the bandÆs release are bad at allùfar from itùthe lack of variety, however, wears the listener out fairly quickly along the bandÆs lengthy release. Mai is an excellent record that, by virtue of being four or five songs too long, is made into a good release. Windrunner did a lot of things right, and on paper this release is one for the record booksùbut in reality, it doesnÆt all pan out. In the end, Mai is still very much worth your time, even if there are only a select few songs the listener ends up holding on to. For Fans Of: Oceans Ate Alaska, Damned Spring Fragrantia, Currents ............................................................................ LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEE!