RISINGFALL
“Rise Or Fall”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Risingfall are a heavy metal band from Japan formed in 2014, releasing one demo ‘Prologue’ (2017). one live album ‘Tokyo Metal Fire (Live In Tokyo)’ (2017), two E.P.’s – ‘Cry For The Steel’ (2018) and ‘Ashes From The Ashes’ (2019) – and one full length studio album, ‘Rise Or Fall’ (2022).

Featuring the bands trademark energy laden blend of speed and power, Risingfall storm through all eight songs on offer in just thirty five blistering minutes. The bands fiery attitude is red hot across the albums opening salvo, the breath taking ‘Kamikaze’ – rocketing forth at a phenomenal speed! The band are back, and doing what they do best. The head bangers of the world loving this one, as heads rock back and forth at an extremely high rate of knots, stretching neck muscles to breaking point. Best get the number for the local A&E department – you just might need it! Without pausing for breath, the band storm on with the even faster ‘English Motor Biker’ – and a blend of speed with traditional heavy metal. The iconic “foot on the monitor” feel coming to the fore, albeit at an incredibly fast pace. What a red hot opening double…

…which becomes a treble, with the much heavier ‘Dancing In The Fire’, exhibiting a hustling, bustling nature that the opening two songs didn’t have. Yet the melodious intent is sky high, Risingfall proving themselves more than capable of maintaining the legacy of Japanese metal that began with Loudness way back in the early eighties. ‘Rock Fantasy’ is a more mid tempo gallop than anything heard so far, with a distinctly British feel about it. Think bands such as Samson and Saxon, and the whole NWOBHM vibe – and you’ll get somewhere near the sound of ‘Rock Fantasy’. The bands self titled song ‘Risingfall’ is a speed metal monster, the band going into overdrive to deliver the fastest song on the album…so far! The head bang ability is superb, with the neck breaking pace sending the worlds mosh pits into a fucking frenzy. All you listeners in the comfort of your own homes, good luck trying to keep up with the exhilarating pace of ‘Risingfall’.

And still with no pause to catch a breath, Risingfall motor on with another iconic foot on the monitor gallop – ‘Never Surrender’ resonating with so much old school flavour, I could easily close my eyes and think I’m back in the eighties! The decade of heavy metal evolution with legendary bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Helloween shaping the sound that we all know today…and love! But suddenly, all pace and power is put to one side and replaced by what sounds like an impending ballad. Surely not – not on a metal album! But yes, an air of serene balladry takes over the airways with ‘Arise In The Ashes’ floating gently by, forcing listeners to lift lighters high in the air and sway from side to side. The eighth and final song on the album ‘Master Of The Metal’, is the only song on offer to breach the five minute mark – and is a searing aural attack of all out and very fast paced traditional heavy metal. And this is exactly the style of metal that Risingfall have forged a strong reputation for. So come on every head banger and mosh pit all around the world – go fucking crazy for a cracking heavy metal anthem…’Master Of Metal’.

The recording for ‘Rise Or Fall’ was completed in 2021, with founding guitarist Yoshiki passing away in 2022. Risingfall have dedicated the album to Yoshiki, R.I.P.

Overall, a blistering eight song rampage of all out pace and power, with heavy leanings towards traditional metal.

TRACKLIST

Kamikaze
English Motor Biker
Dancing In The Fire
Rock Fantasy
Risingfall
Never Surrender
Arise In The Ashes
Master Of The Metal

http://www.risingfall.tokyo/
https://www.facebook.com/Risingfall-415186632011227/

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