Unleash (EP) explained

Unleash
Type:EP
Artist:Band-Maid
Cover:Band-Maid_Unleash.jpg
Length:28:33
Language:Japanese
Label:
Prev Title:Unseen World
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Epic Narratives
Next Year:2024

Unleash is the second extended play by Japanese rock band Band-Maid.[1] The EP was released by Pony Canyon on September 21, 2022, and contains eight tracks, including the lead single "Sense".[2] It debuted at number nine on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 7,590 in its first week.[3]

Background and recording

The songs on Unleash were taken from compositions that the band had worked on over the previous two years.[4] [5]

Composition and lyrics

Lead guitarist Kanami Tōno stated that she tries not to listen to rock bands, so that she won't be inspired by them.[6] "From Now On" originated because lead vocalist Saiki Atsumi wanted to have a new instrumental.[7] [8] The song includes orchestral elements.[9] [10] Bassist Misa wrote her bass solo on a keyboard.[7] [8] Tōno wrote "Balance" with an image of bouncy song, but that would also feel futuristic and experimental.[11] It includes lots of English words because rhythm guitarist/vocalist Miku Kobato wanted to use more strong words.[11] [12] Atsumi asked Kobato to make the beginning of the chorus in Japanese.[12]

Atsumi asked Tōno to write "Unleash!!!!!" with the theme of the second phase of world domination.[4] Tōno wanted the melody at the start of the song to be the hook as she feels that Atsumi has a very hook-laden voice.[4] The vocal key was originally higher but Atsumi found it difficult to sing.[4] It was the last song written for the EP.[4] The tempo is 193.[13]

"Sense" and "Corallium" originally appeared on the single for "Sense". They were approached to write "Sense" on New Year's Day 2021 and recorded it before summer.[14] The lyrics are about the manga Platinum End. They were given free range with the lyrics, except that they had to include the words "angel" and "premonition".[15] The orchestral intro was not originally part of the song, Tōno composed it after the producers of the anime asked them to include it.[7] [9] [16] [17]

Atsumi also wrote lyrics for "I'll", but Kobato's lyrics were chosen instead.[5] "Corallium" is Atsumi's first lyrical composition.[16] Kobato also wrote lyrics for the song, but Atsumi's lyrics were chosen instead.[16] The song is about the ocean, which she is afraid of. She stated that she thinks the ocean is similar to love.[16] Atsumi asked Tōno to write a song similar to "Alone" or "Choose Me".[18]

"Influencer" is about women who live their lives through social media and want to be beautiful all the time. When Tōno was writing the song, she knew that she wanted to include a long bass solo.[10] [19] Drummer Akane Hirose consciously wanted to include simple and intense sounding drums without too much complexity.[5] [19]

"Hate?" is the oldest song on Unleash, it was written two years earlier as an instrumental.[6] [19] When Atsumi heard Tōno's demo for the song, Atsumi thought that Tōno was angry about something, which she denied, saying she had an image of an explosion.[19] The lyrics were written at a time when Atsumi was seeing a lot of stories about infidelities in the news.[19] Kobato also wrote lyrics for the song, but Atsumi's lyrics were chosen instead.[5]

Critical reception

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRank
Punknews.orgSamantha Barrett's Top EPs of 2022
Rice DigitalSix of the top 2022 JRock albums
Wall of SoundSimon Valentine's Top 10 Releases of 2022

Track listing

All music written by Band-Maid.

DVD/Blu-ray (Limited Edition)

Personnel

Band-Maid

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[20] 10

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unleash(通常盤)-Band-Maid. Pony Canyon. January 24, 2022. ja.
  2. Web site: Pryor . Terrence . J-rock band Band-Maid announce new EP 'Unleash' at Anime Expo 2022 . July 9, 2022. September 25, 2022. MSN.
  3. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Albums: 2022/09/28 公開. Billboard Japan. ja. December 26, 2022.
  4. Web site: 【インタビュー】Band-Maid、世界征服の第二章を進める新曲「Unleash!!!!!」. Barks.jp. ja. August 10, 2022. September 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Band-Maid「Unleash」インタビュー|世界征服第2章の幕開け、"解放"を掲げた新作EP完成 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー. Natalie.mu. ja. September 22, 2022. 3. September 25, 2022.
  6. Web site: Band-Maid VanityMix Web Limited Interview. VanityMix.jp. ja. 2. September 28, 2022.
  7. Web site: 【インタビュー】Band-Maid、"らしさ"と"新しさ"満載のEP『Unleash』完成「文字通り解放っていう感じの作品になった」. Barks.jp. ja. September 21, 2022. 2. September 25, 2022.
  8. Web site: Band-Maid VanityMix Web Limited Interview. VanityMix.jp. ja. 1. September 28, 2022.
  9. Web site: Band-Maid「Unleash」インタビュー|世界征服第2章の幕開け、"解放"を掲げた新作EP完成 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー. Natalie.mu. ja. September 22, 2022. 1. September 25, 2022.
  10. Web site: Band-Maidインタビュー "世界征服"第2弾と銘打った2nd EP『Unleash』を手に過去最長の全米ツアーへ. TVLife.jp. ja. 3. September 25, 2022.
  11. Web site: 【インタビュー】Band-Maid、"らしさ"と"新しさ"満載のEP『Unleash』完成「文字通り解放っていう感じの作品になった」. Barks.jp. ja. September 21, 2022. 3. September 25, 2022.
  12. Web site: Band-Maid「Unleash」インタビュー|世界征服第2章の幕開け、"解放"を掲げた新作EP完成 - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー. Natalie.mu. ja. September 22, 2022. 2. September 25, 2022.
  13. Web site: Band-Maid VanityMix Web Limited Interview. Vanitymix.jp. ja. September 25, 2022.
  14. Web site: 【インタビュー】Band-Maid、新しい武器を手に入れ"心の世界征服". Barks.jp. ja. October 28, 2021. September 25, 2022.
  15. Web site: Band-Maid「Sense」インタビュー――中2病みたいなワクワク!. Usen. October 28, 2021. September 25, 2022. ja.
  16. Web site: 「幸せにしてやる!」Band-Maidの本質とは. musicvoice.jp. ja. November 4, 2021. September 25, 2022.
  17. Japan's Band-Maid Talk Connecting With Fans Around the World During COVID & Their New Single 'Sense'. Billboard. November 30, 2021. September 25, 2022.
  18. Web site: <インタビュー>Band-Maid、コロナ禍での国内外のファンに向けた活動&最新シングル『Sense』を語る. Billboard Japan. ja. Skip to the second page.. November 11, 2021. September 25, 2022.
  19. Web site: 【インタビュー】Band-Maid、"らしさ"と"新しさ"満載のEP『Unleash』完成「文字通り解放っていう感じの作品になった」. Barks.jp. ja. September 21, 2022. 4. September 25, 2022.
  20. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/09/28 公開. Billboard Japan. ja. September 28, 2022.