JACKSON

Yet another great album from Yoshida and crew here. While the last album, Isotope, was a live recording, this one's back in the studio. They really rip it up no matter where they're playing though, live or studio. This is a sure sign of that. The album includes two tracks which were present on Isotope, but slightly more polished (which seems pretty tough to do as they already sounded great in 2004 when recorded for that album), along with a good amount of new material.

Just like on all of the group's other albums, they waste no time getting right into the crazy, fiery instrumental interplay I've come to associate with the group. Sometimes the sound is heavy and menacing, sometimes it's still heavy but playful. They really did a great job here of mixing the two together, and songs like the title track are a good example of how the group can sound cheery when they want. The song does turn a bit darker later on, which isn't a problem.

One of my favorite things about Korekyojinn is the equality of the musicians in the group - sure, Kido gets the majority of the solos, but as far as the compositions go, everyone's pretty much equal, and they can all show off their abilities without seeming over-indulgent. With three amazing musicians like those on board here, I couldn't hope for anything else. Kido Natsuki is very possibly my favorite guitarist, both for his work here and in Bondage Fruit. There's something about his style that not many have, in my opinion. Anyone who's talked to me on the forums probably knows I've got a mild obsession with anything which involves Yoshida and his drumming (first discovered through Koenjihyakkei), and ever since I discovered this group, Daimonji, and Altered States I've grown to really love the sound and style of Nasuno's bass playing. This is probably my favorite "super group", especially considering Hoppy Kamiyama provides keyboards and some vocals for the next album, Swan Dive.

If you are on the lookout for incredible instrumental rock, then you owe it to yourself to find albums by this group, because they really are some of the best of the best at what they do. Along with Swan Dive, this is one of my favorites from the group, and it easily earns masterpiece status from me. I'm eagerly awaiting the new album due out later this month.