CDJapan : New Customer Review

Outstanding Power stands on solid foundation on the band's familiar power and heavy metal style songs while adding new experiments on a couple of songs. Even though the album has its share of fast songs as expected it also has more mid tempo songs and even a ballad. "Silence the Void" is a good example of a traditional Lovebites power metal song, wheras "Reaper's Lullaby" is much more aggressive and has clear influence from melodic death metal in its use of tremolo picking. "Wheels on Fire" is more light hearted mid tempo rock song, inspired by Thin Lizzy. I recommend the version, which comes with a bonus DVD or Blu-ray. It contains dynamically shot and well edited full concert.

Generation Mind

Black Swan

A GREAT Sophomore Effort

Black Swan’s debut effort is merely “good” which is annoying because it had tons of promise since McAuley, Reb and Pilson are awesome (drummer is super boring though). Thankfully, GM is exactly what I dreamed they would be, in large part because the music is infinitely more melodic. In fact, it sounds very Winger debut album-ish. Highly recommended!

Ranma 1/2 Memorial Book [Reprinted Edition]

Takahashi Rumiko

A wonderful edition

I liked the presentation as well as the illustration content. This memorial is totally worth and I wish all the compilations from artworks would be this well produced.

ILLUSTRATION 2026 [Special Edition]

Hiraizumi Koji / Editor

A very good illustration catalogue

The presentation of the book is flawless. I think the content is well organized and offer artist a wide look about the illustration landscape in Japan or about pop illustration. Very well done a great series to follow up.

BC-TBK-01 Short Handle Brushes Case (Camellia) Camellia

Makeup Brush

Wow

Such a beautiful brush bag <3 I fall in love with this print the moment I saw it. It's very very beautiful, so bright and feminine. Bag has enough space for 10 brushes with short or medium length handles , like Sonia G keyaki or Chikuhodo. I'm very happy to look at it and to use it. Thank you

If Not For The Devil

FATE

Decent AOR

This is the first Fate album I’ve ever owned, and the only reason they are even on my radar is because apparently the band was first started by someone IN the original Mercyful Fate. Bridges Are Burning is an amazing track with a sick riff and chorus, but sadly none of the other songs come close to this caliber. The rest of the album is average.

Lux

Rosalia

Excellent album from Rosalia.

Excellent production, great sound and a treat for audiophiles. Music is wonderful and executed on a grand scale.

The Voyages

Crystal Lake

Earlier Hardcore and Modern Production

I consider myself a big fan of CL, but admittedly I don’t know their early works. That said, I know these are up to date recording of their old songs, and this is AWESOME. Twisted Fate especially encapsulates getting that makes this band great. Highly recommended for all metalcore fans and essential for Lake fans

Soulbound [Japan Bonus Track]

Robin McAuley

The Songs Just Are Not There

Big fan of Robin, MSG, Black Swan and the like … but this album just isn’t it. Unlike his record Standing on the Edge - which is awesome - this one just doesn’t deliver because while Robin sounds good, the songs are just bad. Nothing is catchy, nothing is memorable, the musicianship is boring - they’re just there. I hate to say it, but, pass.

The Walls are Crumbling Down [Japan Bonus Track]

Ramonda

Better than Stormwarning!

I’m a fan of Stormwarning, so this band featuring lead singer Ramonda - definitely piqued my interest. And Walls is better than the last Stormwarning album! I find it heavier, we can hear Ramonda’s range, and the songs are just better. Moonlight, Fire and Hearts are standout tracks. Highly recommended

Watch Me Burn [CD+DVD]

Crystal Lake

Two Songs are decent; DVD OK

The first track is the melodic track and the second is the harder, more breakdown-ish track. They're both fine, and get the job done. The DVD is good, but I would have preferred spending a bit more money on a blu-ray. Due to the price point for just 2 songs and a DVD which only fans will be interested, I can only recommend this TO fans.

The Weight Of Sound

Crystal Lake

Goodbye Ryo and Enter John

I was highly anticipating this album since I was super interested to hear the band without Ryo in a studio setting. For the most part, I was not disappointed. The music is great as ever, and John sounds fine. The first half of the CD is the strongest. However, the production is NOT great - after listening to this album after the CD EPs, there is a definitely drop in quality: there is clipping, a bit of distortion and not as much sound separation. Secondly, and speaking of the EPs, the two live tracks exclusive to the Japanese edition are welcome, but, they also don't sound great. That all said, this is great modern metalcore, a must have for Lake fans, and highly recommended.