{"id":288280,"date":"2025-11-13T02:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T02:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/288280\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T02:36:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T02:36:11","slug":"esprit-dair-aeons-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/288280\/","title":{"rendered":"Esprit D’Air – Aeons Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Electronic music and metal joining forces is often treated with suspicion. Not electronic in the \u2018band member finds a Casio keyboard in their cellar\u2019 sense, but a genuine fusion of the two with synthesizers on the forefront. Esprit D\u2019Air is one of the more recent bands making waves with their take on this mix. A Japanese band formed in London in 2010 and spearheaded by Kai (The Sisters of Mercy\u2014yes, that one), they\u2019ve quickly formed their identity around a catchy blend of alternative metal, J-rock, and trance, among other stranger things. One break-up and reformation later, debut album Constellations finally appeared in 2017, followed by 2022\u2019s Oceans and 2024\u2019s Seasons. Fourth full-length Aeons is looking to delve deeper into Esprit D\u2019Air\u2019s niche, attempting a more varied package without any of their usual guest features help. How do they handle this melting pot of genres alone?<\/p>\n

Aeons is here to have fun, first and foremost. While the resurrected post-2016 incarnation of Esprit D\u2019Air is technically a solo project\u2014Kai being the only \u2018official\u2019 full-time member\u2014they do function as a band in practice. Frontman Kai and partner-in-crime Takeshi Tokunaga are behind most of the album\u2019s writing and instrumentation, with Jan-Vincent Velazco handling the drum department. It\u2019s difficult to pin down simple comparison points to Esprit D\u2019Air\u2019s genre soup shenanigans, but the majority of Aeons is built around alternative metal filtered through an anthemic, rock-oriented quality, the likes of X Japan (\u201cLike a Phoenix\u201d). Occasionally, their sound even leans towards the AOR, power-ish metal soar of newer Battle Beast<\/a> (\u201cShadow of Time,\u201d \u201cSilver Leaf\u201d). The guitar work usually resides next to or behind the keyboards, but it does a fine job adding extra heaviness to the album, and the instrumentation in general is tight and snappy. Kai\u2019s vocal chops also play a major role on the record, further decorating strong choruses with melodic, J-rock-inspired vocal lines (\u201cChronos,\u201d \u201c\u7fbd\u3070\u305f\u3051\u201d).<\/p>\n

Aeons by Esprit D\u2019Air<\/a><\/p>\n

Esprit D\u2019Air has a penchant for strong hooks, especially on keyboards. Tracks like \u201cSilver Leaf\u201d and \u201cLike a Phoenix\u201d highlight the album\u2019s greatest strengths, fusing together J-rock with extremely catchy synth patches that borrow from both techno and trance. Crucially, its multifaceted arsenal of keyboard and guitar styles makes the songs distinct from one another. Though the guitars could be more prominent, their relatively simplistic rhythmic role is complemented by powerful leads and intricate solo work when needed. The band\u2019s attitude on instrumentation and songwriting is at times reminiscent of the way Elyose fuses early 2000s electronic and metal influences together, occasionally drifting towards their modern<\/a> djentier alt-metal sound (\u201cChronos,\u201d Lost Horizon\u201d) or even the melodic downtuned attack of Periphery (\u201cQuetzalcoatl\u201d). Through their spectrum of styles, Aeons fulfills the band\u2019s threat to feature more variety in a sleeker form.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The variety of Aeons, while intriguing, is a double-edged sword. There\u2019s a particular spot around tracks 8\u201310 where the album\u2019s alternative edge morphs into an edgier, nu-informed sound, both instrumentally and vocally (\u201cBroken Mirror,\u201d \u201c\u7d76\u671b\u306e\u5149\u201d). Despite Esprit D\u2019Air kind of pulling it off, it doesn\u2019t fit the album\u2019s mood, especially not with all of it centered on one region. Half-ballad \u201cStardust\u201d also quiets the album\u2019s thunder somewhat, its bright but melancholic soundscape causing Kai to overstep his optimal vocal range. Fortunately, the majority of Aeons is memorable and at times even infectious. Its brevity softens its missteps; where Oceans landed at almost an hour, Aeons does more in nearly half the amount of time. This slick 35-minute runtime means its speed bumps aren\u2019t fatal, but the middle of the album does still sag in comparison to the powerful start and finish.<\/p>\n

Aeons ends up being an entertaining, tight bundle of melodic genre-defying goodness. Its catchy rock\/metal attack blends together everything \u201900s, and the electronic influences are particularly satisfying. The record\u2019s inconsistency does leave something to be desired, and its sonical direction is unfocused at points, but the positives ultimately outweigh its stumbles. When I picked up the promo for Aeons, I wasn\u2019t sure what I was getting myself into or what to expect. Now, it\u2019s apparent Esprit D\u2019Air have made an album that amounts to more than its components imply. I reckon their appeal can reach beyond their cited genre tags, and there\u2019s plenty of room to further expand on their best qualities in the future.<\/p>\n

Rating: Good!
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: FLAC
Label: Starstorm Records<\/a> (self-run)
Websites: Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a>
Releases Worldwide: November 7th, 2025<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n