BLAZE unleashed the album “DETERMINATIONS.” on February 18. Previous releases were sold exclusively at live shows in Japan. However, DETERMINATIONS. is the first complete album available to fans worldwide, accessible on major digital platforms and in physical format through CDJapan.

The artwork for the album was created by Jin (儿), vocalist of ARTiCLEAR, and matches perfectly with BLAZE’s recent visual style. DETERMINATIONS. features new versions of previously released tracks, including some available digitally for the first time, along with a few new surprises.

The album DETERMINATIONS. opens with Mio to Kyunansha Tachi, a high-adrenaline techno instrumental track. The foreboding air raid sirens throughout the whole track build excitement and tension for the upcoming 12 tracks.

Fresh from the daunting sirens, the appropriately named track DiCTATOR is next. This is an all-encompassing track that combines many elements of what fans love about BLAZE. It showcases vocalist Mio’s versatile screams with low monstrous growls and high screeches, while at the same time showcasing soft, vulnerable singing. The same versatility can be heard in the instrumental arrangement. Punchy and in your face, but also at times soft and melodic, DiCTATOR at one moment can have you headbanging, while at another moment have you swaying from side to side.

Previously released as a digital single, the DETERMINATIONS. version of GOSH keeps the same arrangement but with a bigger and more aggressive production style. A similar trend is heard in all new DETERMINATIONS. versions of previously released tracks. Twinkling synths behind aggressive vocals and instruments make for an upbeat yet heavy experience. The pre-chorus shouts with the lead synth are packed full of energy, leading to a fiery chorus.

A short and sweet heavy track from the album is “eyesore.”. A chorus made up of low, gut-wrenching, inhuman growls, eyesore. is a track for the deathcore enjoyers. Although simple, the instrumental is masterfully crafted to support the inhuman screams while providing a strong instrumental base. The brutal ending breakdown of eyesore. is not to be missed.

ANEMONE, serving as the rock ballad of DETERMINATIONS., has a simple yet addictive structure. A creepy piano opens the track before blooming into an explosive, upbeat chorus. ANEMONE is reminiscent of old-school visual kei, but mixed with BLAZE’s modern embellishments. A nostalgic guitar solo performed by NERO adds to the classic arrangement.

Sozoro ame (Re Recording ver.) was featured on the digitally released single Luminous. A less complex instrumental highlights Mio’s well-crafted vocal melodies packed full of emotion. Strings and bells are featured throughout the track, adding an etheric feel. A buildup through the track leads to the final key change chorus overflowing with emotion.

Kaze no fukuhi to Kyunansha tachi is a brief moment of calmness. The interlude track features a distant-sounding repetitive drum over ambient sounds. Overlayering the soft ambient soundscape is a distorted piano playing a short haunting arrangement. Subtle details get added to the track as it progresses, building up the soundscape like a story, ending with a few hesitant piano notes before leading into the grandiose track, Kaishun. The choir, piano, and strings behind Kaishun create a cinematic soundscape. The track as a whole sounds huge and deeply passionate with the combination of symphonic and rock elements.

Luminous is an all-encompassing track covering both the heavy and soft sides of BLAZE. Catchy choruses and heavy breakdowns overlaid with distorted synths make Luminous a perfect metalcore track. For a more in-depth look at this track, consult our article covering the Luminous music video: BLAZE’s “Luminous” music video takes to church with sparkling synths, stacked shouts. 

Retsujo and “Shineyo.” return to a heavier sound heard previously in the album. The intense, trashy guitar riffs in Retsujo act as the backbone to Mio’s beastly screams. Retsujo is packed full of dynamic changes, keeping you on edge, never knowing what’s coming next. Shineyo. on the other hand, is an earworm; a quick, simple, and high-action track that encourages you to chant along. Previously released as a solo track called Love letter on Mio’s YouTube channel, the new version Shineyo. adds a whole new dimension to the track.

First used to reveal BLAZE to the world, MAYDAY marks the last full song of the album. The production differences compared to the original version completely transform the track. MAYDAY is a standard visual kei track, opening with a catchy chorus before metamorphosing into a frenzied, chaotic verse. An added guitar solo and expanded final chorus further add to the track, showcasing everything BLAZE has to offer in a single track.

Last but certainly not least, Shumaku to Kyunansha tachi ends the album. Acting as an end credits scene, Shumaku to Kyunansha tachi features a beautiful piano arrangement. Digital drums, ambient sounds, and the returning sirens provide a strong beat supporting the haunting piano. This combination serves as a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to DETERMINATIONS..

DETERMINATIONS. leaves no stone unturned. The variety of tracks serves as a strong introduction to any visual kei fans new to BLAZE. For those already established fans, DETERMINATIONS. provides a wealth of new content to dive into. A combination of stunning heavy tracks, hauntingly beautiful rock ballads, and upbeat, fun metalcore earworms, DETERMINATIONS. has something for everyone.

DETERMINATIONS.

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1. Mio to Kyunansha tachi (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   「澪と救難者達」 (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
2. DiCTATOR
   DiCTATOR
3. GOSH (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   GOSH (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
4. eyesore (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   eyesore (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
5. ANEMONE (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   ANEMONE (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
6. Sozoro ame (Re Recording ver.)
   漫ろ雨 (Re Recording ver.)
7. [Kaze no fukuhi to Kyunansha tachi]
   「風の吹く日と救難者達」
8. Kaishun (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   廻春 (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
9. Luminous (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
   ルミナス (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
10. Retsujo (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
    劣情 (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
11. Shineyo. (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
    死ねよ。 (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
12. MAYDAY (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
    MAYDAY (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
13. Shumaku to Kyunansha tachi (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)
    「終幕と救難者達」 (DETERMINATIONS.ver.)