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Last update:
23.May.2012

"Manatsu no Hakkei": Eight Beautiful Midsummer Sights
Composition and text: Celley
Photo: Muru

special features

A mere five minutes late, the hall lights were extinguished, and the hall was illuminated by blazing lights of red and blue on the stage. Rocking industrial music played as the Underneath took the stage, and they didn't keep the fans waiting long before they began their set.
Fast drums and flashing white lights began their first song, "CHAIN." The fans all across the packed-in crowd were immediately entranced, and began to wave their arms to match the song's beat. Vocalist TAKA delivered the song's melody in his strong, deep voice, rare for this type of hard rock music. The song, growing slower to the end, finally faded away to cheers from the fans as it ended.
Song two, "MARIE", started up right away with red stage lights to match its rougher sound. Take's smooth vocals guided the waves of the audience's arms as he sang the lyrical melody of the song's chorus, which gave way to the harder, grinding sound of the Underneath's two skillful guitarists MASATO and TAL.
"FAT FATTY FUCKIN'PIGS" came next, and the audience raised their eyes and arms to watch TAKA as he stood up on the forestage amps to sing and scream the vocal lines. He offered the mice to the fans to scream some of the lyrics, which they did eagerly, and then guitarist TAL played an amazing guitar solo suited perfectly to the rough music. This song featured a lot more screaming, both by TAKA and the audience, than the previous two songs, which continued even after it ended, the audience screaming as they applauded the band's performance.
"We're The Underneath," TAKA greeted the audience finally. "Be sure to enjoy this show!"
"FALL" began with a beautiful introduction of synthesized violins that morphed into The Underneath's signature hard rock sound, though the song was gentler than the last three. TAKA continued to wow the audience with his smooth delivery of hard rock lyrics and melody, harmonizing beautifully with the chorus's guitar line.
The next song was, "GEKKOH," which started with hard head banging in the audience. After the rough beginning of the song played, the music grew calmer, and TAKA was illuminated by soft white spotlights as he sang. The audience raised their arms for the song's chorus, the tone of the music not the rough, raw rock sound of some of the other songs, but a deeper, more expressive style of rock well played by the members of The Underneath. TAKA used his whole body to share the message of his lyrics as he sang, while the fans pumped their fists for the hard, slow beat provided by drummer MASAKI. TAKA's melody grew deeper, almost soulful, before the whole song grew harder and wilder for its final chorus.


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