THE GUERRiLLA BiSH is the Best Alternative Idol Album Yet

Alternative idol has been a flourishing subgenre of idol music for the better part of the last decade, coming to a head in recent years with the establishment of the WACK family of groups. What started as a glint in Pour Lui's eye quickly spiraled out of control into the bloated and generic scene we have today - everybody wants a piece of the punk/metal idol pie, no matter what they have to do to get it. Only one group has really managed to stay consistent and relevant throughout the rise of alt-idol, and that one group is BiSH. Junnosuke Watanabe's pet project meant to replace the hole in his heart left by the BiS disbandment has evolved into something much more special. THE GUERRiLLA BiSH is a product of that evolution.

BiSH has had a bit of an odd year up until now. With Aina The End's multiple TeddyLoid collaborations, the WACK "supergroup" SAiNT SEX, and the decidedly underwhelming GiANT KiLLERS EP, BiSH has been rising into a spotlight which they seemed very under-equipped to deal with. There were expectations to be met, and BiSH felt like they may have exhausted the creative well over at SCRAMBLES with their 2016 album KiLLER BiSH. Sure, GiANT KiLLERS is a fantastic song - one of the group's most powerful to date. But the rest of that EP just fell so flat for me that I was beginning to worry. THE GUERRiLLA BiSH ​has thankfully arrived to change my mind.

The lead single My landscape is a pretty ballad in the vein of Orchestra (isn't every BiSH single now, though?) and it was certainly nice to hear, but it wasn't exactly the relief I needed. The album has so much more in store, though. The ear-shattering, heart-pounding, pummeling inferno that is SHARR. A fitting placement for GiANT KiLLERS. The explosive hardcore riffs and thick bass holding up the wildly energetic SMACK baby SMACK. These are the foundations for the fourth BiSH album, an album which takes a slow start out of the gate before exploding with a nuclear energy previously unheard of on even the group's strongest moments. THE GUERRiLLA BiSH sees a new BiSH, a BiSH who aren't afraid to smash the boundaries between pop music and hardcore punk. And the melodies! These songs aren't just heavy, they're catchy as hell. SMACK baby SMACK in particular has such a gloriously infectious chorus.

This album isn't an unwavering show of force, obviously. Whatever else they are, BiSH are an idol group above all. Fortunately though, SCRAMBLES are also at their peak performance here. From the tower of passion that is Promise the Star to the heartfelt Pearl, or the sweetly gentle JAM, BiSH is able to step away from the flames and deliver some genuinely soulful pop songs.

All of this is punctuated by the straight-up punk BiSH has become so comfortable with like BODiES and ALLS, and the ska-influenced pop punk that SCRAMBLES just can't get enough of like on Rock'n'Roll no Kami-sama or Here's looking at you, kid​.

THE GUERRiLLA BiSH is, without a doubt, the best idol album I've heard all year. It's one of my favorite things the WACK/SCRAMBLES team has ever put together, and - in the words of WACK's own Junnosuke Watanabe - a masterpiece. I love this album. It's gone beyond any expectations I ever had, smashed through them like only BiSH can do. It just makes the other WACK groups and countless alt-idol imitators pale in comparison. This album is the grand BiSH statement we've all been waiting for.

THE GUERRiLLA BiSH comes out worldwide tomorrow, November 29th, and I cannot recommend it enough. Pick it up as soon as possible.

-Justin

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