Genre gymnastics from metalcore punkers
Any chances that Mikoto might be twee Japanese pop is immediately destroyed when the first track literally kicks in. This is metalcore at base; intricate and winding yet stop-starting at the same time - it's pretty good really - but there's tones of punk and Fugazi-style emo there. Some tracks work better than others and the ideas may need to be worked out a bit further, but it doesn't stop it from being listenable.
The first track, 'Blessed Are the Broken', welds emo to hardcore, and first it reminds me a lot of Funeral for a Friend but several listens quickly dispel that notion. The combination of screaming and melodic vocals is used to good effect and, as an opener, it's a great choice.
Mikoto step up a gear on 'Cold Fusion', a more brutal offering than 'Blessed are the Broken' with its metalcore leanings. The intricacies of the music are great just on their own, and the fact there are vocals at all is a bonus. For all its occasional jarring, stop-start melodies, 'Falling Between the Cracks' is the most disappointing track on this EP. It's not that it's bad, but the chugging hardcore punk seems lacklustre after the previous two.
The surprise comes on the last song, 'Traditional Anthem', which starts off quietly with just cymbal and guitar melody, and is more effective than just launching in all guns blazing. It builds and builds whilst more and more layers are added until the vocals explode onto the scene and the metalcore returns.
To compare Mikoto to any particular bands or genres would be lazy and unproductive, as they don't really fit into any sorts of genres. Instead they straddle a few, and surprisingly pull it off. It may be short, but it's most certainly sweet.