In celebration of Pierrot's new upcoming album ID ATTACK, I've decided to review a few of their older albums. Enjoy!

1. Finale
Pierrot likes to start songs off with strange noises. This is no exception. The noises are then joined by some brass (?) instruments and some computer sounds. When Kirito begins singing, the mood is sort of Arabic or Indian, I guess, although this is very subtle. Kirito's vocals are very clean and he uses his lower register for the verses. No growling here. The chorus is a bit higher, but still rather low. Only the bridge really soars. This gives the track a somber feel, despite the fact that it's upbeat. The percussion is really superb here, as is the bass.
Lyrically, this song seems to be about the endless cycle of life, and that it's God forcing us to live the same lives over and over again. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Seeking each other without end, in the clear sky, in the burning sky, these two believe that one day they'll meet again." This is definitely a great way to introduce the album and it's "Adam and Eve" concept. This was my first Pierrot song, and is still one of my favorites.
Rating: 10

Kirito

2. haruka...
If you ever wanted to hear a chorus that really SOARS, this is the song for you. In fact, it opens with the chorus, and it always manages to take my breath away. You probably won't expect the hard, crunchy guitars and heavy bass because the chorus is so gorgeous. The verses are a bit... choppier, and Kirito's voice has an edge. That all disappears in the chorus though. There are a lot of nice, little touches in this song too, like the chimes and things. Also, pay a lot of attention to the guitar lines. They are quite complex for being background accompaniment.
"Haruka" continues the story that "Finale" began. There are two people who are destined to be together again, and everything is pushing them toward that reunion. "Through these millions of years, my love for you will grow infinitely until i get to you, fearful of an endlessly continuing spiral. In the end we headed in the direction of our promised reunion." Kind of uplifting, huh?
Rating: 9

3. Creative Master
It's common knowledge among Pierrot fans that Kirito and/or Jun write the dark songs, and Aiji writes the more upbeat, happy ones. (Some people would say 'poppier' but I don't think that's accurate.) This song is one of Aiji's best works. For some reason, the beat and accompaniment of this song makes me think of those 60s go-go dances. Don't ask me why. This is a very happy song with lots of guitar, and it's extremely danceable. It's nice to hear Kirito sing something with a happy tone. My favorite thing about this song is the harmony during the bridge, which proves that Jun can sing AND play guitar. Aiji gets a nice little guitar solo, too. More than any song on this album, Creative Master is a sing-along track. Love that 60s feel!
Even though the song may be pretty happy, Kirito's lyrics are more serious and provocative. He says that humans are just copies of each other (through reproduction), and that life is like a "drama" that keeps repeating. "It's that time, the curtain is about to open, multiply the copies of myself again and again. Make a drama like those billiard balls hitting off each other." I think this is a really interesting concept to think about. If we're all just copies, then what is the meaning of our lives. I think Kirito would say that you have to find your own meaning. Rating: 9

4. kanata he
This song starts off nice and loud, with guitar and POUNDING percussion. Kirito adopts his serious, dark singing voice. The guitar riff that follows is very memorable, but the verses don't have much a melody. The bridge improves on that, and the chorus is even better. This is one of those songs that just improves as it goes. Love those squeaky guitars after the chorus, too. All in all, this isn't Pierrot's strongest effort, but it's still a way-above average song, and the driving chorus is much appreciated. Both visual kei and plain jrock fans should enjoy it.
To explain this song, I'm going to steal a footnote from Centigrade-J. "This is almost certainly a companion song to "haruka" even the titles seem to be tied together. "haruka na kanata he" (to a far off distant place). The obvious thing being that the song "haruka" ends in saikai no kanata he muaktte and then this song ends with the line owarinonai keshiki Which seems to tie it the images in "haruka." The story seems to be that lovers seperated by time and space, keep trying to meet each other to fulfill a promise to one another to be together, but everytime they get close they are torn apart again." I couldn't have said that any better, so why try? It's connections like this that make "Finale" a true masterpiece.
Rating: 8

5. ECO=SYSTEM
At last, we come to the first ballad of the album. Pierrot may not be known for their ballads, but they perform slow songs beautifully. Kirito sings very tenderly over subdued guitars and steady percussion (mostly cymbals). The melody is very simple in a way that makes it seem pure and sweet. The overall mood is laid back and smooth. There's a nice guitar solo in the middle that adds to the mood being created. This song always seems too short to me, but it's one of my favorites. It may not be dramatic or complex, but is very pretty.
Rather than analyzing the lyrics here, I'd just like to give you my favorite line from the song. "Will my wounds someday become the strength to protect you? We'll hold one another unconcerned with the glaring stares of the people."
Rating: 9

6. Magnet Holic
How many people do you know that are addicted to magnets? Not many, I bet. Anyhoo, this is another upbeat, dancey song. The strange thing is that Kirito's vocals are pretty dark during the verses, which creates a strange mood. The chorus is brighter, but Kirito's vocals have been filtered or enhanced somehow, which adds a neat effect. Sadly, this song gets a little repetitive, but it's short, so that's not a big problem. Despite this being one of my personal favorite tracks, it doesn't really stand out in any way. It's just fun and a nice change of pace. As a side-note, try to see the live performance of this song from the Foreteller's Mutation Final. Kirito does the cutest dance!
This song seems to deal with the idea that in the modern age, we have so many forms of "stimulation", be it physical, mental or maybe even sexual. Kirito says this is better than any drug, but wonders if it is actually a form of insanity. So, I'm not sure if he sees this as a blessing or a curse.
Rating: 8

7. MAD SKY~Koutetsu no messiah
This is such a classic. It starts off with absolutely pounding percussion and guitar, then suddenly becomes quiet for the verses. Kirito's voice goes from being insinuating to quiet and desperate. The chorus explodes, driving the song forward with a completely memorable and addictive melody. In fact, it's the ringtone on my cellphone. There is a great guitar solo and a wonderful bass line. The mood of this song is both mysterious and angry. Definitely a must-hear for all jrock fans.
In this song, God returns as a cruel and overbearing dictator. All our lives are being controlled, no matter what we do. So, even if you think you decide your own fate, it's just an illusion. "Through the cracks of common sense collapsing in panic, we don't even see we're being controlled. You make the appearance of thinking a little, choosing the future according to plan.

Listen closely and you can hear the shriek deep in your heart.

The steel messiah which kicks the earth, destroys only that scenery which he deems unnecessary. In the miniature Garden of Eden watched by him, I'll be smiling until I find the key to the exit."
Rating: 10

8. SACRED
The sound of rain gently falling introduces us to the next ballad on this album. This one is even softer, with only a few sparse guitar notes weaving through the melody. Kirito is able to really show off his vocal skills here, and the emotion he injects into every note is awe-inspiring. When I hear this song, I imagine someone standing outside, staring up at the sky while the rain falls on their face. It's such a poetic and lyrical song. Toward the end, some female backup singers add a few "aahs" and the like. For some reason, the feeling is very Celtic and reminds me of The Cranberries. Again, a strange parallel to draw, but it always comes to mind.
In this song, Kirito is again one of the two lovers looking for each other. He says that in searching for "you," he has sinned too many times and lost sight of the "sacred ground." But, he'll rebuild it for you. "It's okay to keep your eyes closed just like that, because I don't want to be away from you. Because I can still build our own little sacred ground we've lost sight of."
Rating: 9

9. ICAROSS
Without a doubt, my favorite song on the album. It begins with quietly strummed guitar notes that bring to mind the Indian sitar. Then, suddenly the guitars explode into sound and a distinctive melody. Kirito enters singing in his lower register, but the melody is very complex and proves that he is a top-notch vocalist. The mood is very Middle-Eastern, which may be an attempt to suit the sound to the subject matter. The chorus is wonderfully hard to sing and goes VERY VERY low. Kirito sounds to me like he's pleading to be heard. I should also point out that Takeo's drumming is really wonderful here. Aiji and Jun are geniuses on the guitar and bring the song to life. I just wish this song was longer.
"Icaross" was a boy who, in Greek mythology, made wings from wax to escape a prison. However, he flew too close to the sun, and his wings melted. Thus, he fell into the sea and drowned. Kirito seems to be pleading for someone to understand him: "I wish you to understand what's in my heart, though they've judged me insane." I have a feeling that perhaps he was trying to escape that Garden of Eden from "Mad Sky." Really chilling, when you think about it.
Rating: 10

10. Last Letter
We now move from the middle east back to Japan with a song that has many elements of traditional Japanese music. For the first verse, there is only bass and percussion, along with Kirito singing and a few random guitar notes. The tempo is slowish (maybe medium), but the chorus moves along at a nice pace and features another wonderful performance by Kirito. There's also a lot of amazing guitarwork here, as well as violins and other nice touches. This song has one of my favorite PVs of all time, with TONS of sakura everywhere. There's even a pillar of ice with sakura frozen in it. So beautiful! This song gives me the feeling of someone saying goodbye and knowing they will never see the other person again. I feel as though Kirito is trying to explain himself. It's odd, because parts of this song are so soft, and others are quite loud. Still, it all contributes to a feeling of lonliness.
Another tale of two people separated by time and (maybe) death. Kirito is remembering a girl, and the imagery of flowers and watching eyes suggests a funeral. Again, there is hope for a future reunion. "The spring wind gently tickles my cheek. Tears that I held back, overflow. Biting down on my lip, without looking away from the eyes I see in the end. I nodded assent, I remained silent. There weren't even restraints that seperated the two of us. Like that day, surely we'll meet again."
Rating: 10

11. Clear Sky (Nuklear Sky) [album version]
Another Pierrot classic. Very upbeat, it conjures up images of, well, blue skies dotted with perfect white clouds. For the verses, Kirito sings along with the bass line and a few well-placed guitar chords. This song is so catchy, it's likely to get stuck in your head for days. And that's just the verses. The chorus is more of the same, only louder and faster. There are guitars screaming in the background, fast-paced percussion; everything that makes for a great jrock song. There are also some unique elements, like a neat echo effect and these cool church-like bells. The bridge is quiet and prayer-like, and you just about die in anticipation, knowing the chorus is coming again. A wonderful piece of work! Oh, and Kirito singing "shakunetsu" is the coolest thing in the world. ^_^
Really, the lyrics in this case speak for themselves. Here are the last few lines. "We'll surround the angels in blessed black lead and exchange kisses with one another..

Wait for me patiently in this world falling apart, in that place that we agreed upon. We hold one another as we fall to the hot asphalt, and burned away I'll draw you close and we'll sleep."
Rating: 10

12. Child
What, three ballads?! *shock* I sang this song and posted it in a thread on the J-Fan messageboards, I like it so much. It starts off with some ethnic instruments and chimes, then a low, meandering bassline enters. Kirito begins singing in a quiet, contemplative way. He is almost whispering some of the notes. The mood is so perfectly mysterious, and then slowly crescendos. The second verse is therefore louder, more assertive, but still darkly beautiful. The tempo also increases, and some nice harmony is added. The layers continue to build, and then the chorus... It is so hopeful, so filled with wonder... it brings tears to my eyes. And it keeps growing, building, like a staircase spiraling up to the heavens. Sorry, I'm getting all poetic. I really love this song so much.
This song more than any other expresses what "Finale" is really about. Two people, two halves of one perfect whole, separated and searching for each other. Across time and space, they do not give up. "I'll sing loudly and resonate, in hopes that it reaches you, who no longer has a place on this world. And then once more you'll bear a new life until this world gives up." Every aspect of this track is so perfect, so wonderfully put together, it truly is a masterpiece. If one song on this album deserves a 10, this is it.
Rating: 10

13. Newborn Baby
I would've ended the album with Child, but Pierrot decided to add one more track. Maybe they felt the album was too soft, too happy... who knows. This is a hard, noisy track with lots of synthesized sounds. Kirito's voice is filtered and electronic sounding, and the bassline is very staccato. There is almost no melody to speak of, but there is some harmony. I would probably prefer that they had placed this song somewhere in the middle of the album. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty fair song and very well performed, but it feels out of place. My favorite part is the chimes accompanied by Kirito screaming and moaning. hehehe... I hate to mar this album with a low score, but I can't really recommend the song on its own. Pity, the album was otherwise nearly perfectly.
However, lyrically this song is important to both this album and the next one, "Private Enemy." The newborn baby will be a "mutation"; something that will change the world. Obviously, he is the dictator in "Private Enemy." There is one line that I particularly like. "The fickle creater of this world will make someone a devil for every age."
Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10 (so close!)