lynch. released the highly anticipated comeback album REBORN on March 1! This is the band’s first release since the Nippon Budokan performance on November 23, 2022, when they officially announced the end of their hiatus.

The album REBORN marks a departure from how the band previously created albums, as all the band members have been involved in songwriting duties. In lynch.’s temporary hiatus announcement, vocalist Hazuki mentioned that he had been the main composer who wrote most of the songs, and began to struggle with songwriting in recent years. In turn, with their latest work, we instead see an album where each member’s strengths are showcased, and what the band currently sounds like.

『REBORN』全曲試聴動画 / lynch.

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Vocalist Hazuki compositions

Starting with the first track, ECLIPSE. It is a work composed by vocalist Hazuki that brings dirty-sounding guitars and a soaring solo. What Hazuki excels at though is creating an idea of beauty or wonder with a rough and heavy edge.

We have the clean vocals in earshot of the sinister and foreboding guitar work while in contrast, there’s the continuous bassline with Hazuki’s gravely shouts. Notable comparisons of ECLIPSE can point to previously released songs such as TRIGGER or “F.A.K.E.“.

The other end of the tracklist greets us with the thrashy ninth track, CALLING ME. It illustrates lynch.’s unbridled ferocity, and it’s undoubtedly the heaviest and shortest song here, with its dissonant guitars, punishing drums, gang vocals, and Hazuki’s gritty growls.

Drummer Asanao composition

The second track THE FORBIDDEN DOOR, composed by drummer Asanao, introduces electronic elements. It follows with gang vocals and vocalist Hazuki’s monologuing, all blended together to create a multifaceted composition. A great song that starts to break away from the ideas illustrated in their past material.

Bassist Akinori’s composition

It’s bassist Akinori’s turn next, who composed the third track NIHIL, featuring slap bass in the forefront, alongside unexpected funky guitar work. This is different from lynch.’s typical songs that otherwise Hazuki would compose.

Guitarist Reo’s compositions

The fifth song CRIME and the seventh song PRAGMA are composed by guitarist Reo.

They both have a straightforward but enticing energy. There’s this alluring aura that draws you in and envelops you like smog, it’s dark, but comforting.

Reo’s songs have the strongest western-orientated sound, and that fits perfectly with lynch.’s signature sound, but it is still distinct enough to stand on its own.

Guitarist Yusuke’s compositions

Then there’s the eighth track CANDY and the 10th track SINK, composed by guitarist Yusuke.

Song CANDY ushers in industrial and classical elements alongside distinct and hypnotic drumming. These parts of the song have Hazuki repeating the same lyrics over and over but in a playful manner.

However, with the song SINK, it ends the album on a ballad with ethereal electronic elements and a soundscape that has an existential feel to it.

Both tracks fit perfectly on the album, even though they are quite different.

The album REBORN is a great look into how each respective member of the band approaches composing, but still with a sound that is uniquely “lynch.”. It may take a while for older fans to get into this, but this could also be a palette cleanser of sorts, or a gateway for new listeners.

The word REBORN conjures images of entering a new stage in the band’s career, and after performing at Budokan, it sure seems that way.

The only way is up for lynch., and it’ll be interesting to see where they go next!

lynch.’s album REBORN is available for purchase in physical and digital format.

CALLING ME / lynch.