ONE OK ROCK’s newest single release this year “The Beginning” opens with Taka (lead vocals) backed by Toru’s guitar and a piano. The vocals from Taka have a particularly nice sound to them and the overall sound so far with this track is quite indie rock but with a pop twist.
“The Beginning” for these first seconds sound very much like a pop band beginning until the drums (Tomoya) enter and take us into the main of track. This brings in a lot more of the heavier sound to the song as he gives the foot pedal and cymbals some good usage especially.
Ryota’s bass is also rather prominent for the verses in particular, the guitar melodies are noticeably more subtle for these parts to great effect, because it then allows you to hear this wonderful supporting rhythm.
Taka, for this track especially, has a good steady and melodic voice. As with the drums, as soon as the main of the song kicks in, the vocals present a stronger and more emotive character.
Taka also sings in English for this track which is quite deceptive at first because as he opens the track in English, and continues with this, you are tempted to believe that the whole of the song will carry on in this fashion. It is not however the way this track goes. Instead, Taka slips in some Japanese here and there, but unlike the English which just seems to flow naturally, the Japanese (weirdly enough) sounds quite odd.
The end of the song is the most grand though, from the instrumental bridge which slowly invites the track to take things up another notch, to the perfect key change from Taka and to the increase of drama altogether that the combined effort from each instrument puts forward for this ending, builds perfectly to it’s peak and makes for impressive listening.
The second track “Ketsuraku Automation” opens with a beautiful, classical, introduction of cello and violin. The transition this time between classical and heavier rock notes is rather good with this track. ONE OK ROCK do not cut straight from one to the other in an abrupt change of style or mood, rather they build upon it, each section flowing perfectly through each gradual change.
A set back with this track however would probably be the lack of this classical element. The opening is the only time for the duration of "Ketsuraku Automation" where you hear the cello and violin which begs the question of why it was there in the first place.
Lastly, as the third track "Notes’n’words” begins, we have another change in style but this time it is one which sticks through out. The band now leaving us with a notably slower, acoustic yet still remarkably powerful track to finish the single with.
"The Beginning" will be released officially on the 22nd of August and it will come in just the one edition, featuring the three songs as mentioned.