灰の羽搏 (Ashed Wings)

I find this album somewhat inconsistent and exhausting to listen to, but there's also stuff on here that absolutely goes hard. As a rhythm gamer, I know Camellia as one of the holy trinity of "the song is going to break my fingers" alongside t+pazolite and xi, but this is my first time listening to Camellia's work outside of a rhythm game.

I think this album is characterised by runs of 2 or 3 songs that go absolutely hard followed by tracks where the main gimmick just kinda doesn't work. The first trio of tracks I see my brain essentially making up charts from various rhythm games, but it kinda sags a bit from Cring'd to Swindler, the latter of which is a weird mix between big band and EDM that I wish got the chance to cross into each other more rather than being seperate versions. Lost Technologie did not need and extended version that song was a full on miss.

Bayonex, Ashen Wings and Denpa are the next string of tracks I really enjoyed, with Bayonex just feeling like it worked overall, Ashen Wings feeling like a great mix of vocals and you will break your fingers on this chart energy, and Denpa just being fun and goofy.

The energy kinda dies from there, with everything feeling kinda overwhelming on the ears till Drenched in Air, a collab with Ninamae Ina'nis from Hololive EN comes in as a really refreshing, relaxing listen that felt like it helped the last two tracks go down better. Drenched in Air probably the best track on this thing I love it but also I was exhausted at that point so listening to it on its own might be a good idea.

Overall, I don't think this is a bad album, there's more on here I enjoyed than didn't, but when all the tracks push the 5 minute mark on an hr and a half long album, those lows make for 15 minute slogs that stick out way harder. It did not need to be as long as it is.