To me, the Japanese orgcore scene has always been an interesting thing when you're talking Asian scene and I see many great Japanese 90s-'00s melodic hardcore/orgcore bands as my early influences. What's been so good about the bands is that Japanese bands have always made accomplishment through their music or sound compositions despite the band itself having difficulties with the English grammar. Many Japanese bands and their songwriting were trying so hard to have an English-spoken song though they have trouble putting up the correct grammar for their songs and vocal pronunciations. I do not know why they do so and in my honest opinion, they'll be good as well if they sing their tunes in Japanese.
without is a band that I discovered on a regional music webzine called "Unite Asia" where they put out their first music video from a single called Wasted and from that time without just blew me away with their songs. In 2022, the band just put out their first full-length ever, after an EP, a magnificent split release with good friends, and a bunch of booked shows. Well generally, I would like to be honest that the materials on Be Corny were much more calm and reflective if you would make a comparison with their previous stuff. Don't get me wrong though, this doesn't mean I would dislike the release. No, I do not! The music is much calmer but they still keep up with the songwriting qualities and I think that defines how further this could go in exploring their sound. And I think without is one of those bands that doesn't need to be "over-experimented" with their sound cause the band has made their way on being one step ahead in exploring their sound.
The album starts with an intro song called "Sick Boy", I love how the boys put out the intro with the acoustic guitar sound and it has a rad guitar line buuuttt the vocal harmony that follows it up sounds like a "no" for me. I do understand that some emo songs would have it as an artistic point when the song contains a high-pitched vocal sound, and usually, the vocal can't reach its peak point. This may at times define the emo song identity, but in this song I don't think this really works. It's more like a #flatFace part to me.
The next song called "Hot Water", is a mid-tempo song where the band successfully delivers its emotional catharsis. What I love about without is that the band doesn't rely on a conventional pop music structure like intro-verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus. What I hear is that they were going straight ahead with the song structure; no repentance. The chanting vocal at the final part of the song is one of the most lovely parts of this album and the most emotional part of the song.
The next highlighted track, is "Central Park", the single of the album. This track starts with a midtempo drumming that is followed up with a high-pitched vocal sound. I love how they put the vocal melodies on this part, it sounds so good. And the lead guitar part in the middle of the song is one of the lovely parts of the song. I think what makes the part sounds good is its fuzzy lead guitar sound. Sounds a bit distinct for any emo band adding a fuzzy guitar layer on the part of their song.
The album is closed by a track called "I'm Sorry No Idea", the song starts with the typical mid-tempo vocal guitar-drum thing; no intro for this one. Yes, they put a lovely vocal melody that follows up with a bit of fading acoustic guitar sounds. I guess what makes the song has a strong point is their acoustic guitar sound that fills up into the song part: an acoustic guitar sound that is followed by a twinkle-like guitar line. Yes the band seems love to have a chanting part at the end of the song. It's like 80% of the song structure was filled up with the singalong part at the end of the song. Nothing's bad here, just an observation.
Overall without put out a good debut and generally their music is as authentic as previously. Tomoki of Raft Records tried to pitch the album to me and mentioned their music is a perfect blend of Snowing and Hot Water Music. To be honest that's a tough thing to be imagined but I dare to say that without have carved their sound writing signature and their sound well. So yes the band has its authenticity as we speak about their music. The LP is put out on CD by a Japanese label called Raft Records, the label is known for putting out so many good local bands like Switchblade, Acle, and Orange Poolside.
