Release Date: November 9, 2016
Track Listing
- Moon Song
- Kaiju
- Girl A
- Claw
- O2
- Feel like
- Aoyama
- Nawe, Nawe
- Buzz Off!
- Kusottarena Kisamarae
- Swan
- I want u to love me
- Ima Made Kimi ga nai Tabun Torimodosou
- NEW WALL
Review
[Alexandros] is a Japanese rock band formed in 2007. In a past life, this quartet was also known as [Champagne] until they were forced to change their name in 2014 to comply with a request from Bureau du Champagne, Japan.Their membership includes vocalist/guitarist Kawakami Youhei, bassist Isobe Hiroyuki, guitarist Shirai Masaki and drummer Shomura Satoyasu. To date, they have released six albums with Exist! being their sixth and most recent release.
The sound of [Alexandros] can be best described as one that takes elements from American and European alternatives and hard rock and adds a Japanese indie twist. That may be a rather roundabout description of their music, but it is the best way I could find to describe them.
Anyway, the first half of Exist! contains some radio-friendly-ish tracks, such as Moon Song, Kaiju and Aoyama. There is also the edgier electronica-flavoured Girl A that also stands out as well.
When you get into the album’s second half, you get more of the raw indie rock sound with songs like Buzz Off!, Kusottarena Kisamarae, and I want u to love me.
Before this album, [Alexandros] was a band I did not have much exposure to. I just thought they had a weird-looking name. It wasn’t until their single Feel Like that I became truly interested in them. That single led me to this album, and I’m glad it did.
Granted, this type of music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is enough on here to make people who would otherwise ignore bands like this take notice. Otherwise, if you enjoy indie/alt. rock, then you’ll be very pleased with this album.
In the end, I believe Exist! is a solid effort from front to back and worth investing time in.
