Jun 27 2011

Album Review: MIWA – My Wish is Your Command

• By hongrui in Album Review, Full Length

MIWA [USA]
My Wish is Your Command
2011
Full Length
Independent
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
7.0/10

Featuring a number of notable members in the band such as Chris Slade (ex-AC/DC)and Bjorn Englen, who also plays with Yngwie Malmsteen, MIWA is a band playing music in the veins of old school hard rock/heavy metal music, with My Wish is Your Command being their first full length release.

The album opens with Finally Found You, with an opening drum fill which brings to mind songs such as Judas Priest‘s Painkiller opening drumming. Japanese vocalists all seem to have a certain style of singing and vocal pattern, and vocalist Miwa is no different. Right from the moment she begins singing on Finally Found You, there is no mistaking that this is a Japanese vocalist. Her gruff vocals sound extremely old-school thrash influenced, and at times she goes all the way to a pseudo-shriek/scream, easily putting male counterparts at shame with the amount of balls and aggressiveness in her vocals. However, this does not mean that she is not capable of “normal” singing as she proves on Crazy and Point Seven, where she does clean singing, displaying the versatility in her vocals. While listening to her vocals certainly took me by surprise on the first listen, subsequent listens become enjoyable and soon realise that there are no other way the vocals on this album can be done.

Guitarist Sean Lee also helps in keeping up the seemingly Japanese image of the music by pulling out guitar riffs that bring to mind old-school Japanese heavy metal bands such as Loudness. And unlike the neo-classical, sweep-picking shredding that similar bands like to utiliise, most of the guitar solos are well thought out and melodious, with small speedy sections littered around, such as on Crazy. The prominent bass lines also give songs a fuller sound, and this presence is even more prominent on the ballad Point Seven.

The songwriting department also does not disappoint, with the songs written by the band being all extremely catchy, with songs such as Gimme sounding almost like a soundtrack to play while riding on a bike, with wind flowing through the hair (with the opening riffs almost reminding me of Metalucifer‘s Heavy Metal Midnight Rider). Top that up with a bluesy Slash-influenced guitar solo and you have the perfect hard rock/heavy metal song. The song even ends like how a Slash song would, with an extra guitar section included at the end of the track. Point Seven is the standard sappy ballad that most such records have, and what makes it special is Miwa choosing to sing in her native language, Japanese, which somehow gives it an even more emotional feel than the usual ballad.

The album provides listeners with 40 minutes of fun and enjoyable music with this debut album. As evident from the music written, the band is capable of much more if they so choose to, and is certainly one of the bands to look out for. Recommended for fans of Japanese-styled heavy metal bands.

MIWA on the internet:
Official website
MySpace
Facebook
YouTube
Reverbnation
Twitter

©2011 Heavy Metal Tribune | Hong Rui

Review from: http://www.heavymetaltribune.com/album-review-miwa-my-wish-is-your-command/

June 16, 2011

Review: MIWA – My Wish is Your Command

I’ll admit, I’ve been letting the band submissions pile up lately – there’s just been too much work on my desk (and I prefer to write most of my client work in silence. Surprised?), and I’ve been feeling a sense of impending doom at the long list of PR emails with the word “core” in them and promo pics of skinny kids with complicated haircuts.

However, when someone emails you and says “Do you want to check out my band? We’ve got Chris Slade of ACDC on drums,” you sit up and pay attention.

MIWA – Your Wish is My Command

MIWA are a Los Angeles heavy metal outfit featuring Chris Slade alongside Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen) on bass, a friendly dude named Sean Lee on guitar, and Miwa – a Japanese songstress with a voice all of her own. Their debut album is My Wish is Your Command and if you want to hear female vocals that aren’t competing for a role on phantom of the Opera or mimicing Angela Gossow’s gutteral snarl, you’ve got to hear this girl sing … or screech, or shout, or gurgle, or whatever the hell it is she’s doing.

“Chris Slade could be in any band, but he joined MIWA because he likes Sean’s guitar playing and Miwa’s powerful vocals.” MIWA’s bio proudly states. Smart move, Chris.

The first time I listened to this album, I was impressed. The second time, I fucking loved it.

This style of heavy metal requires a strong lead vocal to pull it off – especially when you’ve got excellent riffage like this release – and, while Miwa lacks the range of other hard rock/heavy metal vocalists, she’s definitely not short of power or charisma. Miwa’s distinct style often reminds me of the punk rock group Civet, especially on “Playing with Fire”.

You already know that if Chris Slade is hanging around, the drums are going to be awesome. The man knows how to augment a song in just the right places to propel it forward or bring it back. But it’s the riffs and solos lift this album from amongst its peers – I am a guitar girl, first and foremost, and My Wish is Your Command will restore your faith in classic, guitar driven hard rock. The songs work – they flow with a natural ease that can only come from four talented musicians who just click. This is the kind of music that compels you to jump around, pump your arms, and make a jackass of yourself.

If I could pick one fault, it would be that the slower ballads don’t work quite as well with Miwa’s voice as the standout anthems like “My Wish is Your Command” and “Gimme What You Got”. I do enjoy hearing Miwa sing in Japanese, though.

If you’re having a shit week and you need some classic metal to cheer you up, get your hands on My Wish is Your Command. I am listening to “Playing with Fire” right now and, during my headbanging, I bonked my nose on the computer screen. Does it hurt? Yes. Do I care? No – that’s how good this album is. Check out the official MIWA website or the MIWA Myspace page to hear some seriously fucking kick-ass 80s style metal.

Review by Steff Metal: https://www.steffmetal.com/review-miwa-command/