Not everyone appreciates relentless drama, either in life or in song. For those who are willing to live life in a state of high excitement, the band Unlucky Morpheus provides drama in spades. “Dead Leaves Rising,” the B-side of the single “Black Pentagram,” (2018) is a perfect example of Unlucky Morpheus’ ability to bring sensational intensity to its songs.

“Dead Leaves Rising” begins with a rapid-fire descending scalar run on guitar. This then leads into a truly massive guitar riff. The riveting chord sequence is accented with single note ornamentation. Tenge Fuyuki (Fuki), who may be the most versatile rock and metal singer in the world, enters with her spectacular vocals. The verse and chorus are seductive, if seduction is a possibility for a fast paced metal screamer. A skittering guitar solo, sometimes played by mad genius Shiren (now playing Strandberg guitars) and at other times by eccentric wizard Jinya, morphs into a twin guitar neo-classical étude. Finally, Fuki returns, and the guitarists drive “Dead Leaves Rising” home. The sum total of the experience leaves you breathless.

Whoo!

There are at least three different live versions of “Dead Leaves Rising” available on CD, DVD or Blu-Ray Disc. On Unlucky Morpheus Live 2017 (CD/DVD), a guitar solo by Jinya leads into a triple threat (two guitars, one bass) finger tapping exercise before the kick-ass opening riff. On the live album Kiseki no Heizitsu, the bass of 小川洋行 begins the tapping. This time, on Kiseki no Heizitsu, the listener is treated to, not one, but two, of Fuki’s lovely, exhilarating, “whoo!” exclamations. Anyone who has watched Fuki in concert knows that nobody can “whoo!” better than she does. The first “whoo!” is truly epic in its jumping-off-the-high-diving-board excitement. On the recently released Change Of Generation Tour Final (Blu-ray), Fuki indulges the listener with, not one, not two, not three, but four “whoo’s” during that performance of “Dead Leaves Rising.”

In concert, Shiren follows the guitar solos with a gut-busting slide down the fretboard, perhaps to emphasize the epic nature of what we are witnessing. Drummer Fumiya Morishita maintains a frantic and unrelenting beat throughout. The only thing missing from “Dead Leaves Rising” is the spellbinding Jill, whose violin is a highlight of most Unlucky Morpheus works. “Dead Leaves Rising” is high octane entertainment. It is an intoxicating example of the theatrical power of heavy metal. Mesmerizing.