Between Dread and Valor

Between Dread and Valor is a special work on which Galneryus condenses new songs, instrumentals and re-recordings, depicting its technique and drama at a sure density particular to a short-form work, different from a usual full album. Released in 2023, it packs the band’s appeal tightly into a relatively compact running time. Syu’s guitar functions not only with its speed but as a melody that powerfully pushes the songs up, and Masatoshi Ono’s singing freely moves between the overwhelming force of the high range and the delicate nuances of emotion. From the power of the speeding opener “Demolish the Wickedness!” and the drama of “Run to the Edge” to a cut like “Time Will Tell,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Let Us Shine” and “Bravehearts” convey the work’s fullness. Masatoshi Ono’s overwhelming high range is powerfully in sharp form throughout. A record on which, while the running time is relatively compact, the work’s ups and downs are truly large. Aggressive passages, passages foregrounding melody and passages making each player’s outstanding character stand out connect powerfully without waste. A sharply pulled-together, engaging record that powerfully shows grand long-form is not Galneryus’s only appeal — a record where the band’s varied appeal shines.