Kaonashi
Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year


3.5
great

Review

by CEO of Mathcore USER (2 Reviews)
November 10th, 2022 | 69 replies


Release Date: 2021 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Leaning into polarization.

Kaonashi is an interesting case. They make art for the sake of art. No matter how polarizing their artistic choices may be, they fully lean into it with their hearts on their sleeves. I respect them for it as they work to make something of their own. Every single choice they make in their music is bold and unapologetically Kaonashi, albeit with mixed results. Basing their album around the psychological journey of an androgynous highschooler, they create an interesting and cathartic exploration of the troubled teenage mind. With Dear Lemon House…, Kaonashi stylistically put all their eggs in one basket, and it shows with both the good and the bad.

They do well to keep listeners interested in their self-proclaimed “emo mathcore” style. The down tuned riffs come in relentless flurries displaying the guitarists’ proficiency in both their instruments and ability to craft interesting riffs. The band carries a youthful energy that cannot help but draw listeners in to hear what they have to say. Their unhinged sound fires on all cylinders in “Broad Street (Take Me Home)” establishing itself as the biggest highlight. The song effectively wraps their entire sound into a neat package featuring their explosive songwriting style in the first half, but soon shifting gears as the chaos pans into open air allowing the bassist and lead guitarist to paint a new soundscape. The vocalist then takes the wheel with an infectious melody to create a beautiful ending to the song.

The vocalist proves to be the center of Kaonashi’s boldest choice, and also possibly the biggest detractor for many. He adopts a unique high pitch technique that is almost as comparable to a wail as it is to a scream. The give and take nature of his vocals paints a comprehensive picture of how the album plays out as a whole. There are times when it feels like he is truly capturing the desperation of the highschooler as the other band members create the wall of sound to match, yet there are other times when the vocals are overbearing, or a breakdown is a little too shoehorned, pulling the listener out of the narrative they hope to be wrapped in.

This is one of those albums that many may struggle to truly fall in love with, but there is plenty to appreciate here that deserve listeners’ attention. Kaonashi take every risk with their debut album crafting an intense narrative to pair with their mathy hardcore style. Many of these risks pay off well, while others fall short leaving the album feeling a little rough around the edges.


user ratings (79)
3.2
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
tyman128
Staff Reviewer
November 10th 2022


4608 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

[2] hard

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
November 10th 2022


2072 Comments


Pos pos pos possssssss
Want to check this. Spinning in the am brotha

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
November 10th 2022


2072 Comments


I put this on before coffee.
Still slaps.

TheMonster
November 10th 2022


241 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

One of my favourites of last year (#10 on my year end list). Grows on me with every listen, too. Consistently great songwriting. That heavy riff midway through Run Away Jay is so good. And the penultimate acoustic song is a nice addition.

mkmusic1995
Contributing Reviewer
November 10th 2022


2025 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

One of my favorites as well. Very nice review :D

Get Low
November 12th 2022


14553 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

pos'd

Teal
November 14th 2022


613 Comments


Nice review! I personally can't get into this band but I thought the review was really well written.

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
November 26th 2022


2072 Comments


Want more Purpl3 reviews.

SaveBandit
February 24th 2023


3336 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Once you get past the vocals these dudes are actually pretty good.

Purpl3Spartan
February 25th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Yeah they do bring the riffs for sure

TheMonster
February 26th 2023


241 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Vocals are great though

SaveBandit
February 27th 2023


3336 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Objectively they are not great haha. But they do grow on you for sure!

SteakByrnes
February 27th 2023


30382 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I prefer his vocals prior to this release but I have no problem with them lol

tyman128
Staff Reviewer
February 27th 2023


4608 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Amazing vocals ye

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
February 27th 2023


62343 Comments

Album Rating: 3.3

this is probably the worst good album of all time

or some shit

SaveBandit
February 27th 2023


3336 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I agree, vocals prior to this release were better. It's kinda like Knocked Loose where they're just kinda jarring at first and you have to let them grow on you.



The most recent single is a slapper too

TheMonster
February 28th 2023


241 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Need I remind you, SaveBandit, that “objectivity” is merely a “fetish, something ‘reified’, as the domain whose appearance of stable Being conceals its subjective mediation." cf. The Plague of Fantasies, by Zizek

Purpl3Spartan
March 6th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Rip my 100% approval rating 😩

SteakByrnes
March 6th 2023


30382 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Fucked up

SaveBandit
March 6th 2023


3336 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

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