Vrresto

Drummer and leader Tatsuya Yoshida shares writing credits with his bassist, Hisashi Sasaki, on about half the tunes on Ruins' fifth LP of new material, though you'd be hard-pressed to notice a huge difference. In general, their sound is less harsh than on earlier albums, though they have remained one of the most consistently spastic bands in rock history. Vrresto expands on the budding improvisational tendencies of 1995's Hydermomastgroningem, though occasionally at the expense of maintaining the kinetic momentum of the songs. In some ways, this record represents Ruins' transition from punky progressive rock addicts into brawny representatives of the avant-garde. That said, "Warrido" is an energetic track in the classic Ruins style. Similar to many other pieces on this album, this one features Sasaki performing with MIDI enhancements, giving his lines a synthesized edge. Yoshida's bouncy disco beat propels the song, which although technically more sophisticated than previous efforts, is still raw and fun. "Savollodix" is a somewhat chaotic tune that features more MIDI bass and impossibly convoluted vocal gymnastics from the duo. The synth sound is actually similar to that of Yoshida's 1991 solo release, Magaibutsu, and Sasaki overdubs more bass during a section wherein the group's penchant for compact freakout is put to good use. However, despite the spirited performance, much of the music on Vrresto seems more technically impressive than viscerally engaging.