tricot is back with a bang, kicking off the decade in style. Makkuro may be the best release from the Japanese quartet, even topping T H E, which was one of my favourite albums of the last decade. This feels like the logical culmination of everything they have put out thus far and somewhat of a return to the heavier side of things. As usual, every member of the band puts on a clinic as tricot efficiently blends groovy rhythms, complex math rock leads, aggressive post-hardcore energy, and lush pop vocals that are hard to not fall in love with. What excites me most about this album is how great it was upon first listen, as their previous releases took a few spins to really enjoy, but I was immediately drawn into this record.
The opener, 混ぜるな危険, is a hard-hitting track that feels a little too short as it clocks in at just 1:34. That is pretty much my only complaint here, but I got over it quickly while listening to the follow up track, 右脳左脳, which is a super groovy and catchy tune. あふれる brings in the lush aspect that tricot offers during the verses, but they ramp it up in the chorus. There is also an interesting break around the 2:15 mark that sticks out due to the juxtaposition of bright, rapid staccato guitars and a gritty chugging bass at the forefront.
Track four, みてて, is more of a straightforward pop rock song, but it has an overarching dark tone to it. It feels like a bit of a transition to 秘蜜, which is soft and smooth throughout. This again seems like a transition into the next track, 低速道路 one of the softest on the entire album.
The next couple of songs are major standouts to me. That being 順風満帆, a perfectly balanced mix of tricot’s groovy and poppy tendencies, and complex musical capabilities. The chorus is one of the strongest on the album, and is simply a fun song. なか has more of a hip-hop/R&B style of delivery for some of the vocals, and I found myself paying more attention to them versus everything else that was happening. This is not a knock against the rest of the band, rather a testament to the vocal performance here.
Jumping to track ten we get 危なくなく無い街へ, the longest track on the album at 5:14, and the slowest and most reserved song too. The song is a divergence from everything else on Makkuro, so in that regard this is a standout. While I have no idea what the lyrics are saying, this sounds like the closest thing to a ballad on the album.
The title track (真っ黒) closes the album out with a mix of beautiful vocal melodies, intricate guitar work, and a strong rhythm section holding everything together. A perfect amalgamation of everything tricot, and everything found throughout the album.
Makkuro is a killer release. It sounds like tricot truly put their best foot forward when making this record, and I hope it pays them the dividends that they deserve. I highly recommend checking this one out, even if it is not traditionally your style.
Favourite Tracks: あふれる, みてて, 順風満帆, なか, 真っ黒
Genres: #MathRock, #AlternativeRock, #ProgressivePop, #PostHardcore
Release Date: January 29, 2020