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A good album

sauerkraut | 04/14/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have had this on cassette for many years and am pleased that I now own it on CD. This self-titled American debut from the Japanese band E-Z-O was originally released in 1987. This remastered Japanese import version came out in 2005. The CD's packaging is remarkable because it simulates that of a record--an interesting touch. This is a straight-up hard rock album that exhibits solid songwriting, tight musicianship, and gratifying quality of sound. Nine songs are contained. They run the gamut from slow burners--"Mr. Midnight"--to uptempo hard rockers, "Desiree." In addition, the album's music displays an intriguing, serious tone. I enjoy Masaki's memorable vocals which sport versatility; his singing ranges from being gravelly ("House of 1,000 Pleasures") to being smooth--"Here It Comes." Guitarist Shoyo not only is talented, but he is also creative. His rhythm guitar work and soloing are impressive. He decorates the tunes with imaginative embellishments, too. My favorite tracks are "Destroyer" and "Kiss of Fire." The vigorous "Destroyer" contains a pleasing main guitar riff from Shoyo that is regal and striking; also, Masaki provides commanding vocals, and Hiro supplies propulsive drumming. The catchy, energetic "Kiss of Fire" presents an engaging, hard-driving intro, an infectious refrain (which includes a pleasant wordless vocal melody), and suave singing from Masaki on the verses. Examples of other compositions that I find to be enjoyable are "House of 1,000 Pleasures," "Flashback Heart Attack," "Here It Comes," and "I Walk Alone." "House of 1,000 Pleasures" starts off as a slow burner, but shifts into a fleet-paced hard rocker during the ending section--Masaki also infuses some cool vocalizing on the outro. Along with an ominous beginning, Shoyo puts down an indelible guitar solo on "Flashback Heart Attack." The lively "Here It Comes" has a nicely crafted intro (included is Hiro's taut drum work) and a euphonious guitar solo from Shoyo. The stirring "I Walk Alone" displays a curious-sounding guitar solo from Shoyo; also, Masaki's vocals are gritty on the verses, but smooth on the chorus, something that works well and is interesting. The CD packaging includes the lyrics to the songs and an unforgettable color photo of each member of the group in kabuki make-up, along with interesting hairstyles. The disc is almost 36 minutes. This piece of work is recommendable."

Japanese hair metal debut

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 02/20/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With bands like Anthem, Earthshaker and especially Loudness, Japan was never a stranger to the world of hard rock and heavy metal, but EZO was probably their first "hair metal" export.



EZO took a fairly straightforward hard rock approach and added a fair amount of melody and some glam elements from the popular West Coast hair metal scene. The result is an album that's a bit heavier than the Sunset Strip stuff, and a bit less party-centric as well. There are some really good rockers here, like "Flashback Heart Attack", "Destroyer" and "Kiss of Fire".



The band soon fell under Gene Simmons' influence/control and amped up the glam elements in an attempt to reach the US market. The resulting album - 1989's Fire Fire - was moderately successful, but not nearly as rocking or enjoyable as the debut.



EZO's debut is a must have for fans of the Japanese rock scene, and a should-have for fans of 80's era hard rock in general. Unfortunately the CD version was only released in Japan, so if you want to check it out that means coughing up the cash for a pricey import.



Edition Notes: E-Z-O was reissued (again, only in Japan) in 2005 in a paper sleeve with remastered sound. If you're serious about getting this album, you might as well go with the version with superior audio quality."