• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Rise or Fall is the debut full-length album from this Japanese band that has released a number of demos, compilations, EPs, etc. since forming back in 2014. They play a loose, energetic style of traditional metal more like the NWOBHM groups than the technical precision common to the Japanese bands I remember following back in the '80s. They can mash the gas pedal to the floor ("Risingfall") or slow things down ("Rock Fantasy") and pull both off well. The playing is quite good with an excellent guitar tone and some savage bass. Vocals are Risingfall's Achilles Heel as their singer has a thin scream that sometimes veers into a screech and while he's never out of tune (surprisingly, given how all over the place he sounds), it is at best tolerable, at worst grating. I want to like this more than I do as Risingfall play the kind of simple, galloping heavy metal I really like, so here's hoping the singer finds a way to tame his warbling for their next release.