Daughters of the movement started by their spiritual predecessors BiS (Brand New Idol Society), the girls from BiSH are currently holding a steady place on top of the Alternative Idol scene. While the heritage they carry surely played a role in the beginning, strong personality and energetic compositions are what gave the project a significant boost in popularity, so far highlighted by two acclaimed indie records.
It’s not all roses and rainbows though, as BiSH went through several twists and turns this year: the unit released its second studio album Fake Metal Jacket, entered the mainstream world with a major debut single, and lost member Hug Mii ahead of its biggest national tour to date; that’s quite a lot of events in just nine months.
Still, all of this wasn’t enough to stop the six relentless girls from releasing yet another album, along with their newly recruited member Ayuni D. Being the group’s first record as a mainstream act (and considering all the events above) expectations were mixed for this new project: Good news is, KiLLER BiSH is the album these girls needed right now.
Kicking off with the fast paced DEADMAN and First Kitchen Life, the record welcomes the listener with furious riffs packed in straight-to-the-point hardcore punk numbers, that well embrace the identity of the group, and work as a fun and effective way to engage the listener right away. BiSH rarely stand in the same area for too long though, as the mood already starts to change with the radio friendly Orchestra, that takes the classic formula of the group and stretches it to fit more emphasized sections and an orchestral arrangement, giving a fresh touch to the unit’s sound. Getting even more atmospheric, Stairway to me kicks off as a ballad featuring clean arpeggios and delicate piano chords, while showcasing a good vocal interpretation by each member; quite surprisingly, the track then takes an unexpected instrumental turn with frantic riffs and several solos, that shift the mood of the album back to more aggressive tones, leaving a pleasant sense of surprise.
Giving new life to a classic formula is not the only thing BiSH goes through with this record, as the most remarkable accomplishment of it lies in the adoption of several influences to create immediately recognizable compositions. IDOL is SHiT welcomes heavy metal chords, featuring a smart use of synths (a rare skill in this niche) and one of the best choruses of the record, that brings catchiness without sacrificing the generally dark vibe of the track. Similarly, Am I FRENZY?? flirts with prog rock influences and then wraps everything up with a ferocious chorus. Going back to a more pop-rock aura, Hontou Honki and Throw Away make catchy guitar melodies and uptempo drumming a winning combo for the group, while My distinction does a good job in showcasing the classic BiSH sound, with a simple structure and a convincing vocal performance.
At this point, it’s a shame to see the group slightly going back again to uninspired pop rock fillers: KNAVE, summertime (featuring unnecessary English lyrics) and hey gate are all flashbacks to the shallow and almost boring feel some tracks had in previous releases, slowing down the flow of the record in its second half. Not a huge deal, but keeping them out could have made the record’s flow more pleasing.
All in all, KiLLER BiSH is a genuinely fun record, that successfully reaches its achievement of being relentless and catchy at the same time. It improves the original formula of the group, and takes some risks by welcoming new influences and playing with different patterns, and the result is powerful. A few underwhelming tracks slow down the flow and prevent this record from being a perfectly crafted work, but the effort in leading the project towards a more stimulating direction outshines this flaw. With this record, it’s clear that BiSH have all the potential to become a more relevant figure in the scene, and we’re keeping our eyes on these charismatic girls.
Words by Alessandro Tofanelli
BiSH
KiLLER BiSH
Release Date: 05/10/2016
Label: avex trax
Get at: CDJapan.co.jp
LINKS:
– BiSH | Official Website
– BiSH | Twitter
