In a symphony of destruction and reconstruction, we will surpass our creators, states PSYDOLL. The band was formed in 1997 by vocalist Nekoi and guitarist Ucchi, complemented by drummer Venoyama, two years later. Their sound is was inspired by their love for Japanese anime and science fiction movies, and the British crowd loved it so much that the band had to return to the UK in November 2003 for a mini-tour after their performance at the Beyond the Veil festival (in April, 2003). Their debuting LP entitled I, Psydoll was released throught Planet Ghost in October, 2004, encompassing two previous EPs.

PSYDOLL evokes third-fourth generationGoth bands from the nineties with female vox with peculiar structures - the verses are definitely built up from Japanese dark rock but the refrains are definitely the heirs of Mephisto Walz, This Mortal Coil and Miranda Sex Garden.


The first half of the album entitled The Daughter of Dr. Neumann (which is basically the same-titled EP released in December, 2000) emphasizes the fairyland atmosphere we talked about. It is most significantly in anime and epic European animations that we experience similar continent-traversing journeys, exaggerated and shivering-adrenaline-filled fighting and self-questioning in - we could start listing series from Record of the Lodoss War through XXXHolic to Berserk. Nekoi's vocals range from kawaii to downright dispassionate - a perfect pivotal point for the tracks. As for the golden trial (do we whistle and croon it later on during the day), it really works - the first four tracks definitely fit the status of the key track, both separately and altogether.

The EP A WAR IN THE BOX released two years later brings a much varied range in genres - more guitar work, more fast-paced riffs, more spitfire drum machines. Mega boss fights on numerous screens (His Melody), melodramatically long grievings over losses of a protagonist (The Song Offered A Hunter), entry-level soundtracks (In the Fog) welcome us - if you don't find them catchy first, no worries. All of them have a unique personality that will grow over you in due time.


Definitely recommended to[/b] Goths, J-rockers, gamers and to those who fall for ecletic music.



[e]9/10



TRACKLIST: Faraway. Sleeping Beauty. Machinery Lemmings. Aka I Tsuki (Red Moon). The End of Faraway. Theme for PSYDOLL.

In The Fog. #7. His Melody. The Song Offered a Hunter. Spell. The Iron Battleship with the Screw Made With Glass. Theme for PSYDOLL #2. Rose, Rose, Rose (re-arrange).