V/A - MVP 煌 Crystal (1996)

Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Instrumental / Melodic Hard Rock / Melodic Metal / Power Metal / Progressive Metal

Compilation by Japanese label Zero Corporation (MVP/Master Volume Project).

Comes with OBI + lyrics in English and Japanese.

Translated from Booklet
The ballad compilation album "Bisa'd (Beside)" #XRCN-1259 released by Zero Corporation/MVP label in December 1995 seems to have been extremely well received by lovers of beautiful melodies, and now Zero Corporation has delivered another powerful compilation album. It's called "Kirame (Crystal)." Hmm, isn't it a very Zero Corporation-like, clever title? The theme of the previous "Bisa'd (Beside)" was ballads, but what is the theme of this "Kirame (Crystal)"? It is, simply put, melody.

One of my personal beliefs is that "melody rules music." This is a play on the commonly used phrase in boxing, "the left hand rules the world," which means that in boxing, you can't become a world champion unless you can effectively use the basic left jab rather than straight punches, hooks, or uppercuts. This also expresses my belief that, in music, if the basic melody is not appealing, it will not continue to capture people's hearts in a true sense. Therefore, I can sympathize very much with the concept of "Kirame (Crystal)," and in fact, all of the songs included here are of the type that I love. However, Zero Corporation/MVP label itself is a label that has introduced many excellent works to Japanese listeners, with melody as one of its important concepts, so if they were to make a compilation album of MVP label works, it would be a great idea to have a strong melody.

So, let's introduce the sparkling melody experts who participated in this album in the order of the songs.

1ST AVENUE - Intro - Going For The Gold
From 'Tears And Triumph' [#XRCN-1099]
Lyrics by P. Strykes
Music by R. Kempe / G. Lopez / P. Strykes

A five-piece band from the Netherlands. Known as the band that Robbie Valentine was once a member of, Peter Strijks (vocals) was also a member of Vandenberg before joining 1ST Avenue. They have released two albums so far, "Tears And Triumph" (1992) and "Daily Battle" (1994).

MASQUERADE - Gimme All Your Love
From 'Masquerade' [#XRCN-1011]
Lyrics by Tony Yoanson
Music by Thomas G:son

A four-piece band from Sweden. They have released two albums to date, "Masquerade" (1992) and "Surface of Pain" (1994). At Christmas in 1994, they performed for the first time in a joint concert with Jackal, also from Zero Corporation. "Surface of Pain" was recently released in the US through "Metal Blade".

RENEGADE - Hold Back The Night
From 'Time To Choose' [#XRCN-1032]
Lyrics & Music by Renegade

A sextet from Sweden. They have released two albums so far, "Time To Choose" (1993) and "Ravages of Time" (1994).

TALISMAN - Break Your Chains
From 'Talisman' [#XRCN-1040]
Lyrics by Jacob & Jakobsson
Music by Jacob

Was formed by Jeff Scott Soto (vocals) and Marcel Jacob, who used to work in Yngwie Malmsteen's band. Jeff is the only American, the other three are Swedish. In addition to releasing four studio albums, "Talisman" (1990), "Genesis" (1993), "Humanimal" (1994) (in October of the same year, "Humanimal Part 2", based on the European version of "Human-Imal" with a different track list and track order, was also released), and "Life" (1995), they have also released "Five Out of Five - Live in Japan" (1993), which features their first performance in Japan in the fall of 1993.

GLENN HUGHES - Why Don't You Stay
From 'Now On...' [#XRCN-1080]
Lyrics & Music by Hughes / Baker

A solo singer from the UK. After working as a bassist and singer for Deep Purple, he went solo and has released six albums so far: "Play Me Out" (1977), "Four On The Floor" (1979), "Sing The Blues ~L.A. Blues Authority Ii" (1993), "From Now On..." (1994), "Burning Japan Live" (1994), and "Feel" (1995). In between, he released "Hughes/Thrall" (1982) with the Hughes/Thrall project, and has guest-participated in works by various artists, including Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, the Phenomena project, and John Norum.

IAN PARRY - Can't Go On
From 'Thru' The Looking-Glass' [#XRCN-1252]
Lyrics & Music by I. Parry

A solo singer from the UK, based in the Netherlands. He has released three albums, "Symphony Of Dreams" (1993), "Artistic Licence" (1994), and "Thru' The Looking Glass" (1995), and has also guest-starred on two albums by Misha Calvin. Recently, he has also participated in "The Final Experiment" (1995), an album by Ayreon, a project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, with whom he used to work in a band called Vengeance. He has also released "The Last Of The Fallen Heroes" (1994), an album of recordings from his Vengeance days.

SINNER - Respect
From 'Respect' [#XRCN-1119]
Lyrics & Music by Mat Sinner

Born in Germany. Since their debut in 1981, the central figure Matt Sinner , The other members have been in flux, but the lineup has been stable for the past few years. They have released ten albums so far: "Wild 'N' Evil" (1982), "Fast Decision" (1983), "Danger Zone" (1984), "Touch Of Sin" (1985), "Comin' Out Fighting" (1986), "Dangerous Charm" (1987), "No More Alibis" (1992), "Respect" (1994), "Bottom Line" (1995), and "In The Line Of Fire" (1995/live album). In between, Matt Sinner released "Back To The Bullet" (1990) and the best album "The Best Of Sinner" (1994) under his solo name.

TONY BORG - The Angel of Castle Forest
From 'Tony Borg' [#XRCN-1121]
Music by Tony Borg

He is the central figure/guitarist of the Swedish hard pop band Alien, and "The Angel Of Castle Forest" is included in his first solo album "Tony Borg" (1992). As part of Alien, he has released four albums: "Alien" (1988), "Shiftin' Gear" (1990), "Alien" (1994), and "Crash" (1995). The 1988 debut album "Alien" was released worldwide in 1989 with slightly altered tracklists and a remix.

SYMPHONY X - Masquerade
From 'Symphony X' [#XRCN-1198]
Lyrics & Music by Romeo / Pinnella / Tyler / Rullo

A five-piece band from the US. They have released two albums to date, "Symphony X" (1994) and "The Damnation Game" (1995). A major new progressive hard rock band that boasts some of the most technical skills on the scene.

STEVEN ANDERSON - The Child Within
From 'Gipsy Power' [#XRCN-1178]
Music by Steven Anderson

A solo guitarist from Sweden. He made his debut with the album "Gipsy Power" ('94). A young, lyrical guitarist whose new album is eagerly awaited. Rising star on the list.

FORTUNE - Renegade
From 'Making Gold' [#XRCN-1043]
Lyrics by Benny Söderberg
Music by Benny Söderberg / Fortune

A five-piece band from Sweden. They have released three albums to date: "Making Gold" (1993), "Calling Spirits" (1994), and "Lord of Flies" (1995). In the spring of 1994, they performed in Japan for the first time as the opening act for Glenn Hughes.

BAD HABIT - Hunger
From 'Revolution' [#XRCN-1260]
Lyrics & Music by Hal Johnston

A five-piece band from Sweden. They have released three albums to date: "Young & Innocent" (1988), "After Hours" (1989), and "Revolution" (1995).

SNAKES IN PARADISE - Deep In Your Heart
A six-piece band from Sweden. They have released "Love Got Wings" (1993/4-song single) and "Snakes In Paradise" (1994).

ROKO - Think About Tomorrow
From 'Think About Tomorrow' [#XRCN-1218]
Lyrics by Robert Kohlmeyer
Music by Kohlmeyer / Lee / Bugnard / Pasquier

A four-piece band from Germany. They have released three albums to date: "Roko" (1990), "Open Invitation" (1992), and "Think About Tomorrow" (1994). The central figure, Roko Kohlmeyer (vocals and guitar), also works as a producer and engineer, lending his support to young German bands.

MISHA CALVIN - Heaven Only Knowns
From 'Evolution' [#XRCN-1059]
Lyrics & Music by Calvin, Bregovice / Parry

A solo guitarist from Yugoslavia who moved to the UK and is active in the UK. He has released two albums so far, "Evolution" (1993) and "Evolution II" (1995), both featuring Ian Parry (vocals), and Tony Martin (vocals) of Black Sabbath (vocals) on "Evolution".

Looking at the album, we notice that all the artists on this album are from Europe, except for SYMPHONY X from New Jersey. This can be seen as an example that proves how American artists, who should still be leading the world music scene, have become indifferent to melody these days, and conversely, it also makes us realize that it is the moist melodies from Europe that resonate with the hearts of Japanese people. And the fact that there are many artists from Sweden, especially among them, can be said to represent the characteristics of Japanese listeners. The melancholy melodies unique to Scandinavia always capture the hearts of Japanese people.

Recently, Swedish pop artists such as Cardigans, Cloudberry Jam, and Yaki-da have been selling well in Japan one after another, and a "Swedish pop movement" is now taking hold, which is also a good example of the Japanese sensibility that responds sensitively to Scandinavian melodies.

Anyway, this compilation album "Kirame (Crystal)" is guaranteed to bring tears to the eyes of music fans who love beautiful melodies, and listening to this album myself, I feel that my belief that "melody conquers music" has been strengthened even further. If you can get your heart racing after listening to this, you are definitely Japanese!

'95.12.20 Masao Fujiki / BURRN!