Eve of Destiny- Nervous and Innocence

Eve of Destiny, the collaboration between the Zolge’s Haruhiko Ash – who more or less founded the gothic scene in Japan – and Kozi, guitarist for legendary visual rock band Malice Mizer, at first sounds like regular industrial rock with a Japanese twist, but on closer listen it becomes apparent that this is more like darkwave sped up to a blisteringly fast tempo. All of the elements are there – the thick string pads and multiple vocal layers of “Mother,” the synthesized harpsichords and horror soundtrack introduction of “Garden for a Zealot,” and the angry orchestral stabs of “Dead Or Alive,” but it’s all combined with a drum machine pulsing itself silly in double- and triple-time. Even Ash’s thickly accented lyrics – sung in a mixture of Japanese and English that can be disorienting until you get used to it – are too dramatic to fit into the standard industrial mold, despite the liberal use of various processing effects. Then there’s Kozi’s guitar. Extremely fast and technical, it’s got the flair of glam or metal but it’s heavy and ominous enough to compliment the darkly cinematic programming. Uniquely Japanese, this EP’s take on darkwave can be a bit disconcerting if you’re not ready for it, but its intriguing blend of high-energy beats, classical samples, and screeching guitars is the perfect antidote to an overdose of European club fodder. Expand your palate with this six-song appetizer and hope for a full-length sometime soon.

Visit Haruhiko Ash and Kozi online at www.eveofdestiny.net.