Last Friday, alternative rock band ONE OK ROCK released their latest album, Ambitions (now available in English and Japanese on iTunes and Spotify). The Japanese band, consisting of Takahiro "Taka" Moriuchi , Toru Yamashita, Ryota Kohama and Tomoya Kanki, has been steadily rising in popularity, especially since their recent tours with popular bands including 5 Seconds of Summer, All Time Low, and Sleeping with Sirens. As someone who just recently became familiar with ONE OK ROCK and their music, I was excited for January 13th to come to hear their new record and I was definitely was not disappointed.

(Ambitions by ONE OK ROCK cover art)

The album starts with an introduction that is also the title track of the album. The song Ambitions, sets the mood of the album with an interesting ambient followed by an incredibly talented Ryota on bass with a line that, as a bassist myself, I was immediately drawn to. Already excited and drawn to the sound, I was committed to finishing the rest of the album in that sitting. Though I have fallen in love with the sound of this band and each of their new songs, a few personal highlights from the album includes Hard to Love, American Girls, Bon Voyage, and Take What You Want featuring Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer.

The slower, more tender jam, Hard to Love kicks off with guitarist and founder, Toru, picking out a smooth acoustic melody that is then joined by lead singer, Taka. Rhythm, drums and by association, drummers have always been one of those things that I was drawn to in songs making American Girls one of my favorites off the album mostly because I could not help but smile at the beat set by drummer Tomoya. Another favorite of the album, was Bon Voyage. The lyrics and vocal performance of Bon Voyage really got to me. I have always loved songs about running away and escaping to better places. The line "I know things won't change, I'm saying Bon Voyage" speaks to me and Taka's ability to hold the notes with such a pop punk, post hardcore edge has me wanting to put the song on repeat.

The last of my favorites on the album will probably come to no surprised to anyone that knows my appreciation for 5 Seconds of Summer, and to be honest, I was initially drawn to it because of their contribution; however, I was surprised by how much I loved this song because of how the vocals of each band so perfectly blended together. Their voices complemented each others spectacularly and left me wanting more from both bands. Though I loved the vocal performances together, the solo points that I just could not ignore, for example, my favorite line would have to be when Taka sings "can you hear me, I'm trying to hear you, silence strikes like a hurricane" in the first chorus followed by 5 Seconds of Summer's own, Ashton Irwin singing the same line in the second chorus and the vocal inflections that came from each of their voices.

I can say without hesitation that I was completely blown away by the talent of this band, and I cannot wait to follow their career. Check out ONE OK ROCK and their new album Ambitions on iTunes and Spotify!