Song Review:: Yuta (NCT): Depth- Off the Mask {Japanese} {Debut}

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  • Release date: 2024 October 03/November 11
  • Album tracklist: LAST SONG, Off The Mask, Save You, BAD EUPHORIA, PRISONER, Goodbye, Butterfly - Depth Ver.

  • Album runtime: 21 minutes

 I didn't do the digital release for the album back at the beginning of last month because I'm still not sure exactly where I stand on the Japanese releases. But SME is doing such a piss-poor job of promoting him that I feel the need to this time around. Also, that's over a month between digital and physical album releases. Why so long? And I genuinely don't know when to say this was released, because I've got about three or four conflicting dates. I'll decide before I post this review, but I just want you all to know that I'm very confused, and even though I don't listen to NCT much in general, my algorithms give me new releases, even ones I wasn't aware of. And I still didn't get this one. As far as I can tell, this is his debut, and there should be so much pomp and circumstance from SME for it.

Average run time is just under 3 minutes a song, continuing with this trend I don't particularly like, but at least it's close to 3 and not 2 1/2 minutes. The fact that I have to say that as a good thing bothers me.

I don't know what I was expecting, but a rock song was not it. Wow, this is dramatic in the best way with screaming electric guitar alternating with absolute blasts of sound. Dare I say this is heavy metal? You know, I was feeling a little tired coming into this song, but I'm not anymore. This is a wake-up call that is 100% being added to one of my playlists on principle.  I think my favorite part is the bridge, because everything gets quiet, but it's like a leashed tiger rather than a well-groomed show dog. The power and aggression is still there. It's just held in check for the moment. I love a good hard rock song because it's an expression of what I'm not allowed to express while I'm at work.

It always entertains me how unhinged solo artists can get when they do stuff apart from the group. I was not expecting this genre from him, but I'm glad to hear it honestly. Will he develop a little bit of a rasp from this album? It's entirely possible, though I also trust him to be able to maintain his throat and voice appropriately as expected of a professional singer. He's got a lovely voice and I'm curious to see what he does with it in the future.

The music video is exactly what I would expect from a song like this, complete with fallen angel wings. 

But bear with me for a moment. In the video game Dragon Age 2, there's a companion quest for Varric where you end up going to a haunted manor to try to save his brother from his unwise choices. There's a red magic rock that behaves and grows like a rapid-growth crystal, but also infects organisms and causes mind control and mind altering shenanigans. The music video reminded me of that manor with the red and destroyed and kind of creepy. I'm glad the music video at least was released in October, because it's perfect for the Month of Spookening, and while I don't know Yuta much at all, he vibes so well with this concept that I fully believe it despite not knowing him very well. And that thumbnail is amazing and really sets the mood.

SME. Do the bare minimum and promote your artists. Be an actual, functioning company. I can't believe I have to say this.



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