Japanese/Western fusion like you've never heard before!
Steve | New York | 04/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What do you get when you merge alternative, indie rock, metal, traditional Japanese instruments and inflences, and then add in one of the most incredible female vocalists you've heard in a long, long time???
Answer: HEAVENSDUST !!!
I have been playing the new CD "Without a Voice" incessantly since it's release only a few weeks ago. Could not wait to get my hands on it since first discovering Kazha (Kazuha Oda) on myspace, and then realizing she had a whole other side as musical director, songwriter, vocalist and collaborator with Shin (founder of the band in 2000) of HeavensDust. The CD and their music defies any simple characterization since it is powerful, raw, disonant, melodic, contemporary and ancient all at the same time and rolled into one musical fusion. The main ingredients here are power of musicianship and songwriting, intense energy, deep emotion, gorgeous melodies and vocals, light and dark, some chaos and then ultimately...a sense of spirituality triumphing... all merged into this complex and groundbreaking collection of music. Stylistically, there is the fascinating fusion of traditional Japanese music, contemporary metal and hard rock, power pop (sort of) and the contrasting and complementary mix of Shin's urgent and passionate vocals bordering on absolute growling at times, and the incredible beauty of Kazha's remarkable vocals (which are even recorded in multiple layers on some tracks !!!) providing the ultimate balance. The 2 artists play off of each other in what would seem to be complete contradiction. Believe me though...it works and is some of the most interesting and satisfying music I've heard in quite some time. This band is probably unlike anything you've heard before...they are special and very unique and probably worth some serious listening! It may take more than one listen on a few of the songs here, but once you do you will be hooked. To get you started try "Norns", "The Reason", "Sound of a Teardrop", "Awaken", and the cd's finale "Fate"...then move on and enjoy the entire disc...you are in for a really different kind of listen!
Hope you agree and enjoy this great music...
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