BLINDMAN

The self-titled BLINDMAN is a fulfilling Japanese melodic-hard-rock work layering precise, fluid guitar phrases and lyrical, beautiful melody. Bearing the band’s name, it is a confident work showing one arrival point of its musicality. The vocals are soaring, and the songs value above all not merely speed but the rich sway of emotion. A record where Tatsuya Nakamura’s outstanding guitar work shines. From the powerful drive of the opener “The Way to the Hill” and the drama of “Prison of My Mind” to a cut like “Another Tomorrow,” every song is engaging, while the speeding “Ready to Fight” and a cut like “The Sun Will Shine” convey the work’s fullness. Tatsuya Nakamura’s fluid, lyrical guitar is powerfully in sharp form throughout. A record on which the technical, outstanding playing certainly has a strong presence, yet it is always placed to firmly support the songs’ beautiful flow. Delicate, careful construction and a powerful band feel coexist at an extremely high level. A powerful, engaging signature work truly worthy of bearing the band’s name — a record where the band’s fullness shines.