After years of releasing excellent material, The Rampage’s 2021 work swerved in directions that weren’t for me. In fact, they missed out entirely on my Top 50 J-pop countdown last month – a rare omission for one of my favorite groups. Leading up to their latest full-length album (basically a compilation of those 2021 singles), the guys have released its title track as a single. Ray Of Light doesn’t compete with the absolute best of The Rampage, but it feels like their music is finally back on track.
This is a weird little song. On the surface, it’s the latest attempt to capitalize on pop music’s obsession with spacey synth tones. But, it swerves in unexpected directions, resulting in a track that could stand to be a little more cohesive. Luckily, these individual pieces are all solid on their own.
Ray Of Light’s chorus opts for heavy vocal distortion, casting the main melody as an otherworldly, phantom-like hook over which the guys deliver melodic responses. It’s an off-beat approach, neither a drop-style structure nor fully-fleshed out refrain. But, it works very well. I’m less-enthused by the pre-chorus, which feels too minimalist compared to the rest of the track. But, the rap verses deliver the trademark Rampage energy I’ve been missing, and the spoken post-chorus hook scores surprising mileage given its simple repetition. Ray Of Light even finds room for a brief Michael Jackson inspired dance break just before its final chorus. There’s really something for everyone here, and I think it’s the strongest single they’ve released since 2020’s Invisible Love.
Hooks | 8 |
Production | 9 |
Longevity | 9 |
Bias | 8 |
RATING | 8.5 |
After months of ‘meh’, it feels good to see Rampage embrace the energy and swag that made them great in the first place. Hoping to see them improve from here now!
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The EXILE re-make Singles by the Junior groups (maybe Battle of Tokyo too) was a highlight for me last year.
I will agree 2021 was kind of a dud for the TRIBE musically (except for FANTASTICS, maybe I’ll include Ballistik too I loved the Animal single) so I’m hoping for a great 2022!!
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I liked this it’s like a mix of MJ and The Weeknd…
The EXILE re-make Singles by the Junior groups (maybe Battle of Tokyo too) was a highlight for me last year. I liked Rampage’s “No Limit” they seem to suit that club-ready EDM well.
I will agree 2021 was kind of a dud for the TRIBE musically (except for FANTASTICS, maybe I’ll include Ballistik too I loved the Animal single) so I’m hoping for a great 2022!!
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Battle of Tokyo and the Exile remake singles really stood out for me. And I agree about Fantastics. They were outstanding last year. I also liked BBZ’s efforts and GENE’s direction too. After Reboot, I’ve not really liked the Rampage’s singles but hopefully things will improve in 2022
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this song makes me feel like i just got home and i feel…
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